AM  ANDAM,  DOUGHS 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 


BT 


AMANDA  M.   DOUGLAS, 

AUTHOR  OF  "SEVEN  DAUGHTERS,"  "HOME  NOOK,"  &c. 


BOSTON  : 
LEE    AND     SHEPARD,    PUBLISHERS. 

NEW  YORK : 
CHARLES  T.   DILLINGHAM. 

1876. 


COPYBIGHT, 
BY    LEE  AND    SHEPARD. 

1876. 


FRANKLIN    PRESS  .' 
STEREOTYPBD   AND    PRINTED    BY 

RAND,  AVKRY,  &  Co. 


DEDICATED 

TO 


MR.  AND  MRS.  GEORGE  G.  HARDY. 


THEY  wno  CLASP  HANDS  IN  PILGRIM  WISE, 
AND  FIND  BENEATH  THE  CLASP  A  FRIEND, 

NEED  ASK  OF  FATE  NO  FAIRER  PRIZE, 

TO  BLESS  THE  WAY,  OR  CROWN  THE  END. 


WOODSIDE,  1876. 


1318625 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 


CHAPTER    I. 

"  A  strange,  sweet  path  formed  day  by  day, 
How,  when,  or  wherefore,  we  cannot  say: 
No  more  than  of  our  life-paths  we  know 
Whither  they  lead  us,  why  we  go."  —  Miss  MITLOCH. 

"  IT  is  all  settled  then,  Nelly?  You  are  certain  that 
papa  and  mamma  approve?  " 

I  suppose  I  did  look  at  her  dubiously.  Nelly  glanced 
up  merrily,  and  smiled. 

"  Of  course,  it  is  all  settled,  or  I  should  not  be  here. 
Much  as  I  liked  him,  I  shouldn't  have^gone  against 
mamma's  wishes.-" 

"  It  seems  so  strange  !  " 

"  You  dear,  little  perplexed  matron !  Are  not  love- 
affairs  always  new  and  strange  ?  I  think  that  is  why  they 
never  lose  their  charm.  It  is  like  a  new  spring.  The 
weather  is  about  the  same ;  trees  grow,  and  flowers 
bloom ;  there  is  rain  and  sun,  cloudy  and  clear  morn 
ings,  evenings  of  dew,  and  evenings  of  drought :  and  yet 
one  never  complains  of  the  sameness.  There  is  a  little 
difference  everj'where.  You  are  surprised  by  some 
change  that  is  rare  and  delightful ;  and  }'ou  enjoy  it  just 
as  if  there  had  never  been  a  spring  before,  or  as  if  it  had 
been  changed  expressly  for  you." 

"  How  eloquent  you  are,  Nelly  !  —  quite  a  philosopher." 

8 


4  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

She  flushed,  and  laughed  gayly. 

"I  have  an  idea,  Rose,  that  my  eloquence  is  second 
hand,  from  some  of  papa's  sennons  ;  and  yet  it  suits. 
Your  marriage  and  Fan's  were  quite  regular  and  ortho 
dox  ;  while  mine  will  be  a  little  out  of  the  order  of  events. 
Dr.  Kinnard  is  so  much  older,  so  different  from  most 
young  girl's  fancies  !  " 

"  O  Nelly  !  "  I  cried,  as  her  eyes  drooped  in  a  thoughtful 
pause,  "  it  is  not  that  so  much  as  the  children.  —  another 
woman's  children !  I  used  to  think  babies  such  lovely, 
helpless  things,  'that  one  must  perforce  be  good  to  all 
children ;  but  these  are  not  babies,  and  will,  no  doubt, 
have  a  prejudice  against  a  stepmother.  And  there  are 
others  to  suit.  It  seems  as  if  it  would  take  the  first 
bloom  and  sacredness  right  out  of  }*our  marriage." 

"  Yes  :  mamma  said  something  like  this  at  first.  Then 
Dr.  Kinnard  and  I  talked  it  over  in  a  very  friendly  man 
ner,  —  not  at  all  like  lovers.  Rose,  I  think  I  am  like  an 
agate,  with  plain  brown  practical  veins,  and  next  a  light, 
air}-,  changeful  one,  romantic,  if  3*011  please ;  and  I  go 
from  one  mood  to  another  in  a  prismatic  fashion,  affected 
by  the  rays  of  light  and  the  turning  of  circumstances. 
But  the  foundation  always  remains ;  and  there  is  some 
thing  under  the  practical,  the  fanciful,  and  the  jagged, 
streaked  veins,  full  of  crooks  and  turns.  My  plain  brown 
side  came  uppermost  then.  I  said  to  him,  '  I  do  not  think 
it  at  all  natural  that  any  stranger  can  go  into  a  household 
of  children  and  grown  people,  and  love  every  one  to  order 
at  once.  I  will  do  my  best  in  a  kind  and  conscientious 
manner ;  but  you  must  be  patient  with  me,  and  wait  for 
love  to  come,  to  be  drawn  by  the  little  tendrils  of  associ 
ation  and  every-da}*  tenderness.  I  could  not  promise  to 
love  any  one  immediately.'  And  he  said  that  was  just 
his  view  of  the  case ;  that  he  alwaj'S  mistrusted  the  ex 
travagant  admiration  that  was  so  often  bestowed  upon  a 
widower's  children.  And,  Rose,  I  think  it  absurd." 


NELLY  HOWARD'S  KINGDOM.  5 

I  stared  at  her,  —  a  tall,  slender  girl,  with  quite  a  dif 
ferent  loveliness  from  that  of  Fan,  who  had  been  consid 
ered  the  family  beauty  in  my  time,  four  years  ago.  How 
odd  it  seemed  to  think  of  her  marrying !  and  how  very 
elder-sisterly  I  felt  with  my  j-ears  of  wedded  experience  ! 
Yet  what  had  they  been  ?  A  housekeeper  who  was  per 
fection,  a  most  indulgent  husband,  prosperity,  and  one 
bright,  enchanting  baby-boy,  two  years  old.  Still  I  had 
that  inexplicable  feeling  of  wifehood  and  motherhood,  that, 
after  all,  sets  married  women  apart.  Yet  Nelly's  experi 
ence  must  needs  be  widely  different  from  Fan's  or  mine. 
How  could  I  advise  or  warn  ?  I  felt  suddenly  the  small- 
ness  of  my  pretensions. 

"I  daresay  you  think  me  heterodox,"  Nelly  went  on  ; 
4 '  but  there  is  a  great  deal  of  sentiment  in  this  world  that 
will  not  stand  the  wear  and  tear  of  life.  Mamma  under 
stands  just  what  I  mean,  and  is  willing  to  trust  me.  I 
have  said  to  nryself  many  times,  '  Here  are  two  children, 
a  son  and  a  daughter,  old  enough  to  know  that  I  am  not 
their  mother,  and  perhaps  grudge  me  a  little  of  their 
father's  love.  I  must  alwa3rs  remember  that  they  had  it 
first,  and  that,  in  any  case,  I  must  try  not  to  defraud 
them." 

"  And  that  is  what  I  should  think  so  hard,"  I  rejoined 
eagerly.  "  And  the  fact  of  his  having  loved"  — 

"Rose,"  —  and  Nelly's  eyes  softened  strangely  with 
a  luminous  beauty,  so  like  papa's  when  he  was  deepty 
moved,  —  "I  do  not  believe  it  was  the  highest  and  finest 
love  that  Dr.  Kinnard  is  capable  of  experiencing.  He 
became  engaged  to  this  girl  when  he  was  in  college,  partly 
to  please  his  mother,  and,  I  fancj7,  without  much  regard 
for  the  sacredness  of  affection.  Then  he  spent  three 
years  in  Germany,  where  he  absolutely  buried  himself 
alive  in  books  and  lectures,  and  was  married  as  soon  as 
he  came  home.  It  seems  to  me  ihey  could  hardly  have 
had  a  taste  in  common.  He  loved  country-life,  and  she 


6  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

hated  it.  She  had  been  a  belle,  and  cared  most  for 
dressing  and  dancing,  and  always  spent  her  winters  in 
the  city,  until  she  became  a  querulous,  exacting  invalid ; 
and  then  her  sister  came  to  take  care  of  her.  I  cannot 
imagine  why  she  wanted  to  marry  him,  when  there  were 
other  men  in  the  world,  I  suppose." 

"  She  couldn't  help  being  sick,"  I  said,  bristling  up  a 
little  ;  for  somehow  the  thought  of  such  a  life  stirred  me 
to  profound  pity. 

"  No,  dear,  perhaps  not.  And  one  of  the  first  things 
I  heard  of  Dr.  Kinnard  was,  that  he  had  been  unexcep- 
tionably  kind  and  tender.  It  is  not  his  nature  to  be 
impatient,  or  easily  anno3'ed.  I  like  that  quaint  old- 
fashionedness,  reminding  me  so  much  of  papa ;  and,  do 
you  know,  he  seems  almost  as  old  to  me.  But  what  I 
mean  to  do,  if  God  gives  me  grace,  is  to  bring  back  the 
lost  youth,  —  the  youth  he  missed  somehow.  Surely  I 
have  enough  for  both." 

She  looked  so  radiant  and  hopeful,  that  I  could  not 
doubt  it.  We  had  all  marvelled  a  little  at  Nelly's  choice. 
Dr.  Kinnard  appeared  an  older  man  than  his  thirtj'-five 
years  gave  him  a  right  to  be.  Studious  and  philosophi 
cal,  rather  dreanrv,  and  absent  as  to  moods,  and  much 
engrossed  with  his  profession,  I  could  hardly  understand 
how  he  had  caught  Nelly's  heart.  He  and  papa  had 
made  friends  in  some  delightful  manner ;  and  he  had  been 
a  regular  visitor  at  the  house  long  before  any  one  sus 
pected  him  of  a  warmer  liking.  He  resided  on  the  out 
skirts  of  a  flourishing  town  some  twenty  miles  distant ; 
and  papa  was  quite  satisfied  with  the  friendly  neighbor 
hood  commendations.  Mrs.  Kinnard  had  been  dead  five 
years.  Her  sister,  who  had  come  at  the  birth  of  her  second 
child,  still  remained  ;  and  for  three  j'ears  his  mother  had 
been  an  inmate  of  the  famil}'.  There  was  a  daughter 
eleven  years  of  age,  and  a  son  between  eight  and  nine. 

And  our  Nelly  had  elected  to  reign  over  this  incon- 


NELLY  KUSTNARD'S  KINGDOM.  7 

gruous  household.  She  had  spent  one  winter  in  the  city 
with  me,  and  been  very  much  admired  :  indeed,  there  had 
been  no  little  youthful  adoration  laid  at  her  feet.  She 
had  a  vein  of  Fan's  fun  and  auclacit}',  and*not  a  little  of 
mother's  good  sense  and  sweetness. 

All  the  household  were  reconciled  to  it  sooner  than  I, 
perhaps  because  they  knew  Dr.  Kinnard  better.  Nelly 
was  twenty  now  ;  and,  though  the  engagement  had  been 
of  but  six  months'  duration,  the  wedding-day  was  already 
appointed.  She  was  not  a  romantic  girl ;  and  this  made 
her  choice  appear  the  more  peculiar  to  me. 

"  Well,  I  hope  }'ou  will  be  very  happy,"  I  said  pres 
ently,  "and  that  the  children  will  not  prove  too  much 
for  you.  If  j-ou  could  have  them  alone"  — 

"That  has  troubled  me,  I  must  confess;"  and  a  per 
plexed  line  crossed  Nelly's  fair  brow.  "  If  I  could  have 
just  them  and  their  father !  though,  Rose,  I  must  admit 
that  they  are  not  entrancing  specimens  of  childhood. 
Maud  is  tall  for  her  age,  slender  and  sallow,  with  straight 
light  brown  hair,  and  light  hazel  eyes,  and  the  oddest, 
pursed-up  mouth,  —  what  we  would  call  a  regular  little 
prink.  Bertie  has  beautiful  dark  brown  e}-es,  like  his 
father,  and  dark  hair  that  curls  a  little  ;  but  there  is  a 
kind  of  obstinacy  in  his  face  that  I  dread  somewhat, 
though  he  is  more  inclined  to  be  joll}',  I  think.  But  }'ou 
see  their  aunt  has  always  had  charge  of  them,  and  pro 
poses  now  to  become  their  governess,  as  she  has  some 
peculiar  views  about  education.  She  is  their  only  relative 
on  their  mother's  side." 

"  And,  of  course,  she  must  live  with  you?" 

"I  must  live  with  her;"  and  Nelly  made  a  humorous 
grimace.  "She  was  older  than  her  sister,  and  must  be 
nearl}"  forty.  Then  the  doctor's  mother  is  past  sixty. 
Rose,  do  }-ou  remember  how  we  used  to  wish  that  we  had 
a  grandmother?" 

Oh,  that  grandmother !    How  we  had  talked  about  her 


8  XELLY  KLNNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

in  our  childish  days  !  —  the  very  dearest  old  woman  in  the 
world,  rather  small,  but  straight  and  brisk  and  bright; 
with  a  lovely,  soft,  wrinkled  complexion,  white  as  milk  ; 
blue  eyes  that*were  tender  and  merry,  and  with  the  pecu 
liar  content  you  sometimes  see  in  eyes  that  have  used  their 
time  and  privileges  well,  as  if  they  had  seen  much,  and 
remembered  -a  great  deal,  and  could  relate  chapters  of 
those  wonderful  bits  and  fragments  of  things  that  hap 
pened  "  when  I  was  young."  Her  hair  was  to  be  silvery, 
and  she  was  to  wear  caps  with  full  lace  borders  around  her 
sweet  face.  Her  dresses  were  to  be  soft  gra}"s  and  browns, 
raw  silk,  I  think  the  Quaker  material  is  called.  Mamma 
had  a  little  square  shawl  in  the  identical  stuff',  laid  away 
in  a  drawer,  which  had  once  been  her  grandmother's. 
How  many  pictures  we  drew  of  this  dear,  charming  old 
lady,  sitting  in  her  rocking-chair,  knitting,  and  telling  us 
stories !  Only  we  could  never  quite  decide  whether  she 
was  papa's  mother,  or  mamma's  mother.  I  smiled  now 
to  think  of  it. 

"  And  how  we  envied  other  girls'  grandmothers  !  But 
we  made  ours  to  order  ;  and  I  shall  have  to  take  Grandma 
Kinnard  just  as  she  is." 

"Do  you  think  you  shall  like  her?"  I  asked  rather 
timidly,  glancing  up. 

"She  sets  all  my  ideas  at  defiance,"  returned  Nelly 
with  an  odd  smile.  "  Her  eyes  are  very  black,  and  her 
face  is  long  and  thin.  She  wears  no  caps,  or  aprons,  or 
little  neckerchiefs  crossed  over  her  bosom,  but  ruffles  and 
overskirts  and  chignons,  and  is  ver}',  very  modern.  O 
Rose  !  when  we  grow  old,  let  us  accept  the  fact  gracefully. 
You  can't  think  how  disappointed  I  was  when  I  saw  her."' 

"  Nelly,  I  wonder  at  your  courage.  It  is  not  a  lova 
ble  household.  You  cannot  even  deceive  yourself  on  the 
subject." 

"  Nor  do  I  desire  to,  Eose.  Mamma  says  the  part  of 
true  wisdom  is  to  look  at  facts  as  they  are,  and  then  do 


NELLY  KINNAHD'S  KINGDOM.  9 

the  best.  Fann}r  had  no  trouble ;  yet  she  went  into  a 
household  of  clderlj*  people." 

"•  But  they  all  liked  her  so  beforehand,  and  wanted  her 
to  come.  And  the  Churchills  were  lovety  people." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  more  attention  ought  to  be  paid 
to  the  relatives  on  both  sides  than  is  commonly  done. 
Why  should  we  make  up  our  minds  that  we  are  going  to 
dislike  each  other,  and,  instead  of  commencing  with  the 
graceful  and  tender  courtesies  of  life,  bristle  all  over  with 
thorns,  and  command  every  one  to  keep  at  a  distance  ? 
There  is  not  even  Christian  charity  in  it." 

"  We  cannot  alwaj's  love  people  to  order,  as  you  said 
yourself." 

"  True  enough.  I  do  not  expect  any  wonderful  wel 
come.  Indeed,  I  fancy  that  both  ladies  would  rather  go 
on  in  their  own  way ;  but,  after  having  fulfilled  all  past 
trusts,  Dr.  Kinnard  surety  has  some  right  to  happiness. 
Neither  of  these  women  is  dependent  on  him.  And  — 
we  love  each  other !  I  know  you  think  it  absurd  of  me, 
Rose,"  she  cries  in  a  sort  of  defiant  way,  as  if  it  would 
hardl}'  be  safe  for  me  to  say  so. 

"I  suppose  }x>u  have  the  right  of  choice;"  and  I 
smile. 

"Thank  you !  "  With  that  she  makes  a  stately 
courtes}'. 

"  How  they  will  miss  you  at  home  !  "  I  say  presently. 

"  But  there  are  four  left ;  and  Daisy  is  almost  eighteen. 
Think  of  it !  O  Rose,  what  a  dear  old  home  it  has  been 
for  all !  A  crowded  country  rectory,  a  clergj'man  '  pass 
ing  rich '  on  his  thousand  a  year,  and  seven  girls  !  But 
with  it  all,  the  best  and  sweetest  mother  in  the  whole 
world.  It  does  seem  ungrateful  to  go  away  ;  but  it  is  the 
fashion  of  this  world." 

The  tears  glistened  in  her  eyes  a  moment ;  but  she 
laughed  them  away. 

"  To  think  of  being   sentimental   over  your   parents, 


10  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

V 

ingtead  of  your  lover !  But,  Rose,  I  must  be  up  and 
doing.  Since,  like  Benedick,  I  do  purpose  marriage,  I 
will  think  of  nothing  the  world  can  say  against  it.  When 
are  we  to  shop?  For  there  is  only  a  month,  you  know." 

As  I  was  in  the  city,  right  in  the  midst  of  every  thing, 
with  Mrs.  Whitcomb  for  my  "  right-hand  man,"  Nelly 
had  come  to  me  to  help  her  plan  and  arrange  her  bridal 
outfit. 

When  Fanny  and  I  (the  two  elder  daughters)  were 
married,  there  had  been  very  plain  and  inexpensive 
trousseaus.  As  papa  said  with  his  fine  discrimination, 
we  were  married  from  our  station,  not  from  our  lovers'. 
Since  that  period,  however,  matters  had  gone  on  quite 
prosperously  in  the  old  home-nest. 

Fan  had  married  into  one  of  the  oldest  and  wealthiest 
families  in  Wachusett.  Her  husband's  uncle  and  aunt 
had  adopted  them.  Winthrop  Ogden  had  come  home  to 
live,  and  was  already  looked  upon  as  a  young  man  who 
would  make  his  mark.  He  was  connected  with  the  bank, 
and  was  taking  a  warm  interest  in  local  politics  ;  and  some 
of  the  stead}* -going  old  men  predicted  a  brilliant  future 
for  him. 

Mrs.  Ogden  was  quite  a  lad}',  and  rode  in  her  carriage, 
had  a  nurse  for  her  children,  and  numerous  indulgences 
of  which  her  mother  had  never  dreamed.  More  than  one 
of  the  belles  in  town  who  thought  themselves  quite  above 
her  then,  envied  her  now.  But  prosperity  agreed  with 
her.  She  was  the  same  bright,  joyous,  Avarm-hearted 
Fan  who  had  brightened  the  quaint  old  rectory. 

So,  when  this  third  marriage  was  settled,  she  one  day 
slipped  a  crisp  little  roll  in  Nelly's  hand. 

"That  is  for  some  wedding-finery,  my  dear,"  she  said 
gayly.  "  I  told  Winthrop  that  he  might  do  the  ornamen 
tal  part,  silver  and  gold,  and  all  that,  but  that  I  should 
be  strictly  useful." 

Papa   and  mamma    had  made    their   additions ;    and 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  11 

Stephen  had  said  to  me  privatel}-,  the  evening  before,  that 
he  wanted  to  give  Nelly  a  pretty  silk  dress  of  a  soft, 
exquisite  shade  that  he  had  seen  in  a  store. 

I  fanc}^  that  we  all  took  a  greater  pride  in  Nelly's  "  look 
ing  nice,"  because  the  first  Mrs.  Kinnard  had  been  quite 
an  heiress ;  and  her  sister,  Miss  Grove,  would  still  be 
there  to  inspect  and  comment  upon  Nelly's  belongings. 
We  had  grown  quite  worldly-wise,  j'ou  see. 

The  doctor  had  a  good  comfortable  income  from  his 
practice,  owned  his  house  and  several  acres  of  ground. 
Mrs.  Kinnard  had  some  money  of  her  own.  The  mother's 
fortune  was  to  be  divided  equally  between  her  children, 
though  she  had  spent  quite  a  large  portion  of  it.  Miss 
Grove  had  been  of  a  much  more  economical  turn  of  mind, 
it  was  said. 

I  did  wonder  what  Nelly  saw  in  that  grave,  absent  man 
to  love  so  well,  when  she  might  have  had  youth  and  its 
accompaniments.  He  was  not  rich  enough  for  that  to  be 
a  temptation.  But  he  was  very  fond  of  her  in  a  fatherly 
fashion ;  and  there  was  something  quite  touching  in  the 
watchful,  wistful  look  out  of  the  entreating  brown  eyes. 
Yet  he  was  rather  peculiar  and  set  in  his  ways. 

Mrs.  "VVhitcomb  came  in  with  baby  at  this  juncture.  I 
had  hardly  been  allowed  to  miss  mamma  in  her  tender 
love  and  sj'mpathy.  She  had  taken  the  real  care  of  my 
house ;  and  she  had  been  such  a  good  friend  to  Stephen 
and  the  boys !  Indeed,  every  one  who  came  in  contact 
with  her  could  not  fail  of  being  indebted  for  some  love 
or  kindness.  She  gave  so  continualty.  Sister  of  Mercy, 
husband  first  called  her  ;  then  Louis  changed  it  to  Sister 
Clare.  Now  and  then  she  took  a  vacation,  and  spent  a 
month  with  mamma,  or  with  the  Churchills,  who  had 
learned  to  love  her. 

"O  Stevie ! "  cried  Nelly,  holding  out  her  hands,  and 
kissing  him  rapturously.  ' '  Do  you  ever  realize  how 
beautiful  he  is,  Rose?  He  is  like  a  picture,  or  a  dream. 
I  am  afraid  of  him,  and  yet  he  enchants  me." 


12  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  But  mamma  is  not  afraid  of  him  ;  "  and  I  took  him  in 
m}'  arms.  Ah,  I  did  know  that  he  was  rarely  beautiful. 
Two  3-ears  old,  fair,  strong,  and  princely  looking,  running 
about  b}'  himself,  talking  every  thing,  and  making  such 
quaint,  wise  remarks,  that  I  sometimes  felt  startled,  and, 
at  others  laughed  at  their  oddness.  As  I  recall  them 
now,  I  think  of  that  other  mother  of  whom  it  was  said, 
"A  sword  shall  pierce  even  through  thine  own  soul." 
But  in  those  days  I  was  perfectly  happy.  How  good  it 
is  even  to  have  had  a  few  golden  years  ! 

We  fondled  and  made  much  of  him,  as  foolish  mothers 
and  aunts  do.  It  is  a  great  comfort  that  Providence  has 
provided  some  outlet  for  .yearning,  demonstrative  affec 
tion.  If  there  were  no  babies,  we  should  be  perched  for 
ever  on  the  high  stilts  of  propriety  and  good  sense. 

Here  we  called  Mrs.  Whitcomb  into  council,  and  dis 
cussed  wedding-clothes. 

"  It  is  so  odd  to  think  of  another  girl  going  out  of  the 
home-nest !  "  she  said,  studying  Nell}'  with  a  kind  of 
motherly  pride.  "Why,  it  is  only  the  other  day  Rose 
and  Fan  were  married." 

"And  thought  ourselves  grand  over  one  light  silk 
dress  ;  while  Nell}'  here  is  planning  for  half  a  dozen.  But 
I  am  not  jealous,  Nell." 

"If  3'ou  were,  I  should  report  you  to  Stephen,"  sa}'s 
Nell}'  merrily. 

We  kiss  baby  again  and  again,  make  him  say  and  do 
hosts  of  pretty  things,  then  sally  out  to  attack  dry-goods' 
stores.  It  is  a  clear,  cold  March  morning,  or  almost  noon 
rather.  Nelly  is  bright  and  gleeful ;  but  I  keep  thinking 
of  the  grave  man  and  his  two  children,  his  mother,  and 
sister-in-law,  and  wonder  if  her  sunshine  will  not  fail 
when  the  glamour  of  courtship  wears  off.  Does  it  wear 
off  ?  Has  Stephen's  and  mine  vanished  ?  Ah,  no,  no  ! 
Why,  then,  can  I  not  trust  Nelly's  to  endure? 

Ah,  mine  has  really  never  been  tried  !     Stephen  so  good 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  13 

and  tender  ;  the  boys,  his  two  brothers,  doing  well,  for  all 
their  troublesome  boyhood  ;  Louis,  having  taken  a  degree 
with  honors,  is  now  stuclpng  theolog}' ;  Stuart,  bright 
and  handsome,  is  in  a  flourishing  mercantile  house,  and, 
though  somewhat  wild  and  careless,  displays  energy 
enough  to  make  a  fortune.  Nothing  to  fret,  or  cross,  or 
to  depress.  Why,  it  almost  seems  as  if  I  was  defrauding 
some  other  human  being  by  having  so  much ! 

There  will  be  thorns  in  Nelly's  path  from  the  outset. 
I  know  she  will  do  her  best ;  and  she  is  no  weak,  easily 
disheartened  girl.  If  Dr.  Kinuard  loves  her  truly,  and  is 
not  won  merely  b}"  the  fair  face  and  beguiling  manner ;  if 
he  possesses  the  rare  attribute  of  justice,  and  remembers 
that  she  is  a  woman,  and  not  a  plaything,  or  a  higher 
order  of  slave,  to  minister  to  one's  personal  comfort  only  ; 
if  — 

Then  I  come  back  to  the  silks  and  laces,  the  pretty 
soft  woollen  cloths  the  clerk  drapes  so  deftly,  the  glisten 
ing  grenadines  and  June-day  organdies,  all  abloom  with 
loveliness ;  for  it  will  be  almost  summer  when  she  is 
married.  She  smiles  with  the  seductive  grace  of  j'outh, 
chooses  this,  rejects  that,  talks  of  carriage-dresses,  dinner- 
toilets,  colors  that  show  by  lamplight,  until  I  wonder 
where  she  has  gained  her  wisdom.  Nelly  Endicott  from 
a  simple  country  rectory  !  Yet  the  clerk  looks  at  her  in 
respectful  admiration,  as  if  she  might  be  a  princess  in 
disguise. 

We  come  home  late  and  tired,  and  find  that  some  of 
the  bundles  have  preceded  us.  Stephen  brings  out  his 
package,  and  begs  Nelly  to  inspect  it  without  delay. 
Under  the  gaslight,  it  falls  in  folds  of  glistening  sheen, 
something  that  is  hardly  pearl,  hardly  gra}-,  but  moonlight, 
sunlight,  and  starlight  interfused, —  a  regular  bride's 
color. 

"0   you   magnificent   Stephen!"    she   cries.     "How" 
could  you  ? ' '     And  then  she  straightway s  throws  her  arms 
•2 


14  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

about  his  neck,  and  kisses  him.  A  son  and  a  brother  he 
is  truly  to  all  the  Endicott  household. 

After  dinner  Louis  comes  in  the  sitting-room  to  help 
criticise  and  admire.  He  is  taller  than  Stephen,  but  still 
slender,  and  with  a  kind  of  fragile  look  that  occasionally 
pains  me.  Thsse  four  years  have  been  years  of  great 
watchfulness  to  him.  Trials  and  failures  have  marked  the 
way ;  doubts,  perplexities,  and  discouragements  have  beset 
him :  yet  there  has  been  a  steady  upward  endeavor.  He, 
of  all  others,  must  needs  be  strong  in  the  Lord  ;  for  he 
finds  his  own  strength  too  often  but  a  broken  reed.  But 
I  think  it  will  enable  him  the  more  clearly  to  comprehend 
the  infirmities  of  others,  and  work  in  him  a  patience  much 
needed  by  those  who  do  the  Master's  bidding. 

Singularly  enough,  without  knowing  it,  he  gives  the 
preference  to  Stephen's  gift,  though  they  are  all  beautiful 
in  their  way,  adapted  to  the  purpose. 

"  Why,  I  shall  be  clad  like  a  princess  !  "  Nell}' cries, — 
"  almost  in  '  silken  shoon.'  I  shall  grow  vain  with  so 
many  fine  clothes." 

"  Like  Rose,  here,"  sa}Ts  Stephen. 

"Vain! — I?"  and  my  cheeks  are  scarlet,  at  which 
everybody  laughs. 

"  If  she  were  not  going  to  marry  Dr.  Kinnard,"  I  say 
to  Stephen  when  we  are  alone  for  the  night. 

He  looks  up  oddly  and  archly.  l '  Why  shouldn't  one 
of  you  girls  go  out  as  a  missionary?"  he  asks.  "  Does 
not  Dr.  Kinnard  need  a  bright,  cheerful  home,  and  a 
pretty,  loving  wife?  What  is  more,  I  think  he  deserves 
it,  after  all  these  unsatisfactory  A'ears." 

"  But  if  Nelly  should  find  out  too  late  "  — 

"  Perhaps  there  is  not  any  river,  and  no  need  of  a 
bridge  :  so  why  do  you  want  to  run  out,  and  see  if  Nelly 
could  cross  it?  "  and  he  laughs.'  "I  should  like  her  to 
have  her  home  alone  ;  but  she  is  taking  the  broad  Christian 
view  of  it.  The  spiritually  lame  and  halt  and  blind  need 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  15 

to  be  ministered  unto  as  much  now  as  eighteen  hundred 
years  ago.  Have  we  a  right  to  push  them  out  one  side 
from  a  selfish  regard  for  our  own  comfort?  Nelly  is  a 
brave  girl.  If  my  mother  had  been  alive,  Rose  "  — 

"  Oh,  she  would  have  been  so  different !  " 

"We  cannot  tell.  Old  age  is  not  always  lovely.  I 
like  to  think  that  you  would  have  been  kind  and  sweet 
and  patient  with  the  whims  and  crotchets  of  ill  health  and 
failing  judgment.  It  seems  so  sad  to  me  to  see  an  old 
person  who  has  lost  most  of  the  friends  and  companions 
of  middle  life,  who  has  known  sorrow  and  trials,  and  is 
living  in  a  kind  of  loneliness  that  youth  can  know  nothing 
about,  pushed  aside  with  careless  coldness,  because  this 
same  overflowing  youth  is  not  willing  to  give  out  of  its 
abundance." 

"  O  Stephen  !  do  not  think  that  hardly  of  me,"  I  cried 
earnestly. 

"It  is  not  a  thought  of  you,  little  woman.  Nay,  do 
not  look  so  grave,  but  rather  help,  than  hinder,  Nell}'  in 
her  new  duties.  Some  one  has  the  hard  work  to  do  in 
this  world.  I  am  just  selfish  enough  to  be  glad  that 
it  is  not  you;  but  I  believe  you  are  brave  enough  to 
do  it." 

"  Thank  you,"  I  said  humbly,  with  tears  in  my  eyes. 

Mrs.  Whitcomb  and  I  had  found  a  treasure  of  a  dress 
maker, —  a  poor  3*oung  girl  who  taught  Sunda}-s  in  the 
mission-school ;  and  she  was  to  give  us  a  fortnight  on 
Nelly's  attire.  We  were  very  bus}-,  you  may  be  sure. 
We  all  helped;  and  we  "rectory  girls"  were  almost 
dressmakers  ourselves.  Then  there  were  some  fine  con 
certs  just  at  this  time,  and  some  lectures  that  Stephen 
wanted  us  to  hear ;  and  the  days  passed  rapidly.  Dr. 
Kinnard  kept  his  love  in  remembrance  by  frequent  letters, 
and  came  for  her  when  she  was  read}'  to  return. 

I  began  to  understand  better  Nelly's  sterling  good 
sense,  and.  the  solemnity  with  which  she  had  already  con- 


16  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

sidered  her  life-work.  Her  love  was  not  a  simple,  girlish 
fancy,  caught  by  something  a  little  out  of  the  ordinary 
course.  I  began  to  fear  less  for  her,  and  leave  her  more 
to  the  care  of  the  watchful  Father,  who  has  promised  that 
all  things  shall  work  together  for  good.  9 


CHAPTER   n. 

"  For  it  may  be  proclaimed  with  truth, 
If  Bruce  hath  loved  sincerely, 
That  Gordon  loves  as  dearly."  — WORDSWORTH. 

THE  marriage  took  place  the  middle  of  Ma}T,  in  church. 
with  Nelly  dressed  in  the  simplest  of  white,  at  papa's 
request.  The  Kinnard  household  had  all  been  invited ; 
but  only  the  two  ladies  came,  their  silks  almost  as  stiff 
as  their  manners.  They  brought  with  them  a  different 
atmosphere,  not  the  cordiality  of  our  circle,  nor  the  high 
breeding  of  the  West  Side,  but  the  bristling-up  of  little 
boundary  lines,  lest  some  one  might  be  inclined  to 
trespass  upon  his  neighbor's  lawn. 

"  I  did  not  consider  it  a  proper  thing  to  bring  the 
children,"  Miss  Grove  explained  to  mamma.  "  They 
are  too  young  to  understand  such  a  ceremony ;  and  it 
would  always  be  a  puzzle  to  them." 

Whether  Dr.  Kinnard  cared,  no  one  knew  ;  for  he  made 
no  comment.  He  looked  unusually  well,  I  thought,  and 
so  happj-,  that  the  last  vestige  of  my  reluctance  vanished. 
A  little  graver  than  our  double  marriage ;  for  that  had 
the  flush  and  exuberance  of  kindred  youth  and  consenting 
friendship. 

We  came  home  to  an  elegant  little  reception  at  the 
rectory.  Fan  had  supervised  that,  with  Daisy  and  Lily 
for  handmaidens,  who  were  growing  up  in  the  same  sis 
terly  companionship  that  had  characterized  Fan  and  I. 

Nelly  had  but  an  hour's  grace,  and  then  they  were  to 
start  for  Washington.  Mamma  was  fresh  and  lovely : 
2*  17 


18  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

indeed,  it  seemed  quite  absurd  to  think  of  her  being  a 
grandmother.  Papa  had  gained  a  little  flesh  ;  and  I  was 
really  elated  to  see  how  he  held  his  own  with  Mrs.  Kin- 
nard,  who  took  the  marriage  none  too  cordially,  and 
hoped  it  was  for  the  best,  in  the  tone  of  a  person  Avho 
would  not  be  heartbroken  at  seeing  a  little  of  the  worst 
happen. 

"  The  traditional  mother-in-law,"  said  Winihrop  Ogden 
with  a  queer  little  smile.  ' '  I  think  she  will  have  hard 
work  to  extinguish  Nelly." 

Mamma  shook  her  head  at  him. 

"  And,  Fan,  if  you  think  you  would  like  to  exchange 
Aunt  Esther  for  Miss  Grove ' '  — 

"You  incorrigible!"  whispered  Fan  with  a  pinch. 
"  It  is  against  good  breeding  and  religion  to  gossip  about 
your  neighbors." 

"  I  am  not  gossiping,  Mrs.  Ogden.  If  I  knew  twenty 
stories  to  their  detriment,  I  positively  wouldn't  tell  more 
than  ten.  Rose,  look  at  those  two  women  :  Miss  Grove 
is  the  old  maid  in  every  severe  and  proper  line ;  while 
Aunt  Essie,  her  senior  certainly,  is  the  very  picture  of 
a  noble  and  lovable  woman.  What  makes  so  wide  a 
difference  ? ' ' 

"It  is  in  the  women  themselves,"  I  replied.  "One 
has  narrowed  her  life  :  the  other  has  broadened  it.  One 
has  made  herself  lovely  through  generous  feelings,  and 
deeds  of  charity  and  tenderness  ;  and  the  other  —  no,  I 
will  not  talk  about  my  neighbors  either;"  and  I  ended 
with  a  little  laugh. 

There  was  a  stir  just  then.  Nelly  and  the  doctor  were 
saying  their  good-bys  ;  Winthrop  and  papa  were  going  to 
drive  to  the  station  with  them ;  and  the  Kinuards'  train 
was  to  start  half  an  hour  later.  Mamma  pressed  them 
to  remain  until  the  next  train ;  but  Miss  Grove  explained 
that  they  seldom  went  out  together,  and  left  the  children 
alone,  and  that,  under  the  circumstances,  they  would 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  19 

excuse  her  feelings.  Nothing  but  her  high  regard  for 
Dr.  Kinnard  could  have  induced  her  to  come;  "for  my 
poor  sister  is  still  a  reality  to  me.  In  time  I  shall  no 
doubt  become  accustomed  to  seeing  her  place  filled  ;  ' '  and 
Miss  Grove  sighed. 

I  wondered  how  mamma  could  answer  her  with  such 
wisdom  and  such  sweetness.  I  should  have  stumbled 
with  the  very  best  intentions.  And  yet  I  felt  sorry  for 
the  poor  lady ;  and,  for  a  moment,  it  seemed  as  if  Nelly 
had  no  right,  —  that  she  was  an  intruder. 

I  suppose  the  vexed  question  of  second  marriages 
never  can  be  settled  to  every  one's  satisfaction.  Whether 
they  are  wise,  whether  they  are  necessar}-,  is  -a  question 
that  no  one  can  resolve,  except  the  parties  thereto.  It 
was  the  first  little  shade  that  had  come  in  to  jar  our 
family  harmony. 

We  bade  the  ladies  a  cordial  farewell ;  but  it  must  be 
confessed  that  we  felt  more  at  ease  after  they  were  gone. 
In  fact,  when  some  of  the  poor  parishioners  who  had  been 
invited  b}"  papa  began  to  come  in,  there  was  a  sudden 
jollity. 

How  pleasant  it  was  to  be  among  old  friends  and 
neighbors !  I  had  only  made  brief  visits  a,t  home  since 
baby's  birth  ;  but  now  I  had  come  for  a  good  long  stay. 
For  this  afternoon  and  evening  I  was  a  daughter  of  the 
house  ;  and  one  or  two  old  ladies  actually  called  me  Rose 
Endicott. 

Yet  I  felt  a  little  bewildered,  trying  to  fit  myself  into 
the  niche  out  of  which  I  had  grown.  Was  this  tall,  shy 
girl,  baby  Edith,  whose  advent  had  made  a  stir  h*  the 
parish,  and  led  to  such  ever-widening  circles?  I  remem 
bered  the  morning  Aunt  Letty  Perkins  had  sat  before  the 
fire,  bewailing  another  girl ;  and  I  had  wondered  if  papa 
were  not  secretly  sorry  to  have  so  many  of  us.  He 
looked  uncommonly  joyous  now,  jesting  with  one  and 
another,  and  talking  about  his  sons.  Why,  it  was  absurd, 


20  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

to  "father"  such  a  man  as  Dr.  Kinnard:  Stephen  and 
"Winthrop  did  very  well. 

About  midnight,  I  think,  we  settled  into  quiet.  The 
next  morning  Stephen  and  Mrs.  Whitcomb  returned  to 
the  city.  Mamma  still  kept  but  one  girl :  indeed,  now 
there  seemed  very  little  to  do ;  and  Daisy  was  a  born 
housekeeper.  Beauty  seemed  to  descend  alternately. 
Daisy  had  a  sweet,  good,  honest  face ;  but  she  would 
never  be  as  handsome  as  Fan  or  Nelly.  Lily  and  Ger 
trude  took  their  share  of  the  household  work ;  and  there 
was  no  bab}'.  Mamma  sat  a  good  deal  in  the  study  with 
some  trifle  of  sewing  while  papa  wrote,  or  read  aloud  to 
him  when  His  eyes  were  tired.  They  drew  closer  together 
as  the  breaches  were  made  in  the  outer  walls. 

Fan  and  I  hoped  they  would  live  for  a  golden  wedding. 
I  could  almost  see  how  they  would  look.  Our  children 
would  have  the  coveted  grandmother.  She  would  be 
taller  than  our  ideal,  and  not  quite  so  full  of  centum-old 
remembrances ;  but  it  would  be  delightfully  entertaining 
to  hear  about  "  When  your  grandfather  went  to  -his  first 
parish." 

I  liked  their  nearness  and  devotion  to  one  another ;  the 
delicate,  old-fashioned  ghiishness  that  came  back  to 
mamma ;  the  thoughtful,  chivalrous  politeness  that  papa 
clisplaj'ed.  It  might  have  been  a  lesson  to  modern  sons  : 
at  all  events,  it  was  worth  living  for. 

First  I  began  to  visit  the  parishioners.  The  little  girls 
who  had  been  in  my  Sunday-school  class  were  young 
ladies,  and  really  gave  me  a  feeling  of  diffidence.  And 
the  old  ladies  who  exclaimed,  "Lawful  sus !  Why,  I 
remember  when  j*our  pa  first  came  here,  and  you  was  a 
little  mite  of  a  girl." 

Papa  had  said  of  Aunt  Letty  Perkins,  "  You  must  call 
on  her  as  soon  as  you  can,  daughter  ;  for  she  is  confined 
to  the  house  by  the  rheumatism.  I  begin  to  believe  there 
may  be  a  beneficial  use  in  gossip,  the  poor  old  soul  is  so 
glad  to  have  some  one  drop  in  and  talk." 


NELLY  KENNABD'S  KINGDOM.  21 

So  I  had  to  tell  her  over  again  about  my  husband  and 
my  house,  how  well  the  boys  were  doing,  how  smart 
the  baby  was,  and  all  the  salient  points  of  my  life. 

"  Well,  I  do  say,  and  allers  did,  that  there  was  no  one 
like  your  mar  for  luck.  Three  girls  well  married !  And 
you  may  notice  it  as  a  rule,  that,  if  the  oldest  goes  off  first, 
the  rest  foller  like  a  flock  o'  sheep.  But  if  the  oldest 
hangs  on  till  two  or  three  are  gone,  she's  sure  to  be  an 
old  maid." 

Which  seemed  to  Aunt  Letty  the  worst  fate  that  could 
befall  a  woman. 

Then  there  was  Jennie  Fairlie,  living  a  charming  life 
with  her  husband,  her  mother,  and  her  babies.  Mrs. 
Fairlie  and  Kate  spent  much  of  their  time  in  the  city. 
Wachusett  the}*  found  very  slow  and  dull ;  and  the  young 
men  "  alwaj-s  were  stupid,  }-ou  know,"  Kate  declared. 

"I  feel  sorry  for  her,"  said  Fanny  one  day.  "Her 
great  aim  in  this  life  was  to  make  a  brilliant  marriage. 
She  is  attractive,  too,  in  a  certain  way ;  but  she  does 
not  seem  to  accomplish  her  desire.  She  is  quite  faded 
with  so  much  dissipation ;  and  I  do  believe  her  mother 
would  be  willing  to  come  back  to  the  every-day  living 
she  once  thought  so  tiresome.  I  can  never  be  thankful 
enough  that  Dick  Fairlie  chose  so  wisely,  and  has  such  a 
delightful  home.  Papa  says  he  is  growing  very  much 
like  his  father.  He  stands  by  his  wife  and  his  faith  in  a 
manful  fashion.  Rose,  it  does  seem  as  if  papa  was 
already  reaping  the  fruits  of  his  labor  in  some  of  the 
3'oung  men  whose  boyhood  he  watched  over." 

Dear,  conscientious,  painstaking  papa !  I  am  sure  he 
deserved  it.  Though  the  reward  does  not  always  come 
in  this  life.  ; 

At  the  West  Side  they  were  still  cheerful  and  serene ; 
but  Miss  Lucy's  fluctuations  as  to  hope  were  over.  She 
was  thinner  and  weaker,  and  lay  on  the  sofa  by  the 
windows  most  of  the  time.  Her  room  was  a  marvel  of 


22  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

brightness  and  comfort.  True,  the  Churchills  had  wealth 
enough  for  every  indulgence  ;  but  there  was  something 
more  here  than  mere  wealth  could  give,  —  a  noble  and 
heavenly  Christian  resignation,  a  cheerfulness  that  in 
spired  one,  and  took  away  the  melancholy  of  death.  It 
made  me  think  of  Sydney  Smith's  brave  sweetness  when 
he  found  that  he  was  stricken  with  a  mortal  disease,  and 
how  he  kept  his  friends  from  turning  to  the  dark  side  of 
the  picture.  Now  and  then  Miss  Lucy  said,  "After  I 
am  gone,  I  want  you  to  do  thus  or  so,"  as  if  it  was  only 
a  little  journey. 

She  would  not  even  admit  that  the  babies  troubled  her, 
— -a  charming  little  girl  of  three,  who  was  named  after 
both  aunts,  but  called  Essie  ;  and  a  frolicsome  boy  of  ten 
months.  Fan  had  grown  a  little  stouter  and  rosier,  and 
"Winthrop  more  manly.  They  were  a  most  fortunately 
matched  couple,  still  inclining  to  the  enjoyment  and  the 
amusement  of  life.  She  was  quite  a  great  lady  in  the 
parish,  helping  papa  in  many  nameless  ways,  and  wdVk- 
ing  for  the  welfare  and  advancement  of  her  kind.  Cer 
tainly  wealth  could  not  have  fallen  into  better  hands. 
And  what  seemed  loveliest  of  all  to  me  was,  that  Win 
throp  was  really  a  son  to  papa.  He  paid  him  a  peculiar, 
well-bred  deference ;  but  I  think  that  true  and  noble 
respect  was  in  the  Churchill  blood. 

Uncle  Churchill  was  mellowing  into  the  most  delight 
ful  of  old  gentlemen.  Small  Essie  tyrannized  over  him 
completely.  Miss  Churchill  had  hardly  changed  at  all, 
unless  it  was  to  have  her  sphere  of  affection  widened  by 
the  new-comers  she  took  in  so  cordially. 

"O  Fan!"  I  said  laughingly,  as  I  sat  in  her  pretty 
room,  half  listening  to  my  baby,  who  was  telling  Miss 
Lucy,  across  the  hall,  marvellous  stories  of  his  papa's 
house,  "  doesn't  it  sometimes  seem  to  }'ou  as  if  we  were 
masquerading?  Think  of  the  day  we  were  cleaning 
house,  and  the  Maynards  came  in  their  carriage,  and  how 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  23 

JTOU  hurried  me  off  down  stairs  to  entertain  them  !  And 
the  many  pinches  and  small  economics,  and  how  grand 
we  felt  over  the  money  the  summer  the  boys  boarded  with 
us  !  Think  of  the  carpet  and  chair  and  our  new  dresses  ! 
Why,  Cinderella's  godmother  was  as  nothing  to  it.  "We 
were  happy ! " 

"Of  course  we  were  !  "  cries  Fan.  "  I  can't  think  of  a 
bit  of  unhappiness  that  I've  ever  had  in  my  whole  life, 
though  we  had  to  squeeze  hard  sometimes  to  make  the 
great  American  eagle  come  out  'and  do  his  duty  nobly  by 
us.  And,  Rose,  I  think  the  experience  was  just  the  thing 
for  us,  — at  least  for  me.  I  can  understand  the  feelings 
and  wants  of  nice  poor  people,  and  see  where  the  bright 
ness  is  needed  in  their  lives.  And  it  is  a  pleasure  to  have 
something  to  give.  Wealth  has  its  responsibilities  ;  but  I 
do  not  see  why  people  should  wrap  themselves  up  like 
mummies,  with  swaddling-clothes  of  ease,  and  never  look 
out  beyond." 

"  That  sounds  like  papa  ;  "  and  I  smiled. 

"  We  all  borrow  a  little  of  him,  I  daresay.  Sermons 
must  be  excellent,  when  one's  own  family  remembers 
them.  Bat  there  isn't  his  like  in  all  the  world." 

Were  we  foolish  about  him?  Perhaps  so.  It  is  well 
that  there  should  be  a  little  of  such  foolishness  left  in  this 
material  world,  where  feeling  is  fast  being  reduced  to  a 
nonentity  by  the  march  of  scientific  facts,  and  affection 
is  laughed  to  scorn  on  the  highway.  Parents  may 
keep  their  children's  respect ;  but  the  adoring  love  we 
all  felt  for  him  was  above  respect.  To  us  he  was  the 
embodiment  of  truth,  tenderness,  honor,  and  generosity. 
The  exceeding  purity  of  his  nature  made  him  a  com 
panion  for  the  most  delicate  girl ;  and,  that  he  could  meet 
a  boy's  strength  and  wants,  Louis  Duncan  had  fully 
tested ;  perhaps  many  another  in  a  scale  of  degradation 
that  we  knew  nothing  about.  No  one  rebuked  a  wrong 
more  fearlessly,  no  matter  in  what  sphere  the  offender 


24  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

might  stand ;  no  one  detected  a  sophism  sooner :  but 
with  his  rebuke  was  mingled  the  quality  of  heavenly  kind 
ness  ;  with  his  exposed  error,  he  never  disdained  to  give 
a  reason  for  the  faith  that  was  in  him. 

My  visit  took  me  back  to  my  girlhood  more  than  any 
other  had  done.  Mamma  and  I  fell  into  the  old  confi 
dences.  She  was  not  yet  done  with  the  struggle  of  ways 
and  means :  indeed,  I  think  she  would  always  have 
planned  closely,  and  bestowed  the  rest  upon  the  poor. 
How  unfeignedly  she  rejoiced  that  we  three  girls  would 
never  be  likely  to  know  the  struggles  of  poverty  ! 

And  so  I  was  feasted  and  feted,  and  baby  spoiled  to  his 
heart's  content.  But,  when  I  crossed  my  own  threshold 
once  more,  two  strong  arms  infolded  me ;  and  the  brave, 
manly  voice,  with  a  strand  of  pathetic  tenderness  in  it, 
cried, — 

' '  My  little  wife !  Thank  God  you  are  come !  It  has 
been  a  lonesome  time  without  you." 

"But  if  you  had  written,  if  you  had  spoken  one 
word  ; "  and  my  heart  beat  almost  guiltily. 

"As  if  I  could  not  fight  my  own  selfishness  down ! 
No  :  I  am  glad  you  staid,  and  were  happy,  but  a  hundred 
fold  more  glad  to  have  you  home  again." 

For  this  love's  sake,  they  shall  leave  father  and  mother. 
And  thus  new  homes  are  made  all  the  world  over.  Ah, 
who  could  ever  open  them  to  discontent  and  sin ! 


CHAPTER  IH. 

"  The  little  griefs,  the  petty  wound's, 

The  stabs  of  daily  care, 
'  Crackling  of  thorns  beneath  the  pot ' 
As  life's  fire  burns,  now  cold,  now  hot,  — 
How  hard  they  are  to  bear  I  " 

DR.  KINNARD  handed  his  young  wife  out  of  the  car 
riage  before  the  wide,  hospitable  porch,  now  abloom  with 
roses.  That  certainly  gave  a  generous  welcome  to  the 
new  bride,  even  if  its  voice  was  a  silent  one.  Their  month 
of  pleasure  had  been  a  rare  holiday  for  the  doctor.  He 
was  looking  younger,  and  a  healthy  color  suffused  his  face, 
—  a  shrewd,  humorous  face  withal,  despite  its  gravit}r, 
which  had  been  more  of  circumstances  and  studious  habits 
than  any  original  bent.  He  wore  a  full  beard,  cropped 
short  now,  after  the  Vandyke  pattern,  which  the  shape  of 
the  lower  part  of  his  face  intensified  ;  a  broad  forehead, 
with  dark  hair,  curling  a  little  at  the  temples,  slow-mov 
ing,  dark  brown  eyes,  that  were  brooding  over  some 
internal  theme,  as  well  as  external  surrounding.  When 
he  seemed  most  oblivious  of  passing  events,  he  surprised 
you  by  some  remark  that  betrayed  his  keen  sight.  He 
was  a  trifle  above  the  average  height,  with  a  little  bend 
in  the  shoulders,  that  detracted  still  further  from  youth- 
fulness. 

A  glorious  summer  day  it  had  been,  with  the  coolness 
of  a  recent  shower  in  the  air.  At  four  they  had  reached 
Edgerly  Station.  From  this  point,  you  had  the  main 
business-part  directly  ahead  of  you ;  and  the  engine 

3  25 


26  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

pushed  on  through  it.  The  river  made  a  sharp  turn  just 
above  ;  and  over  the  bridge  lay  much  the  prettiest  part 
of  the  town,  —  country  and  town  intermingled. 

Mat  had  come  down  in  the  family  carriage,  with  a 
hearty  welcome  for  his  master,  and  a  rather  shy  one  for 
his  new  mistress.  But  he  was  quite  alone.  Dr.  Kinnard 
looked  surprised,  and  knitted  his  brows,  and  asked  if  all 
were  well  at  home. 

"Very  well,  indeed,  your  Honor.  And  it's  a  good 
thing  to  see  you  back.  I  hope  }rou  and  the  missis  will 
like  it  so  well,  that  you'll  never  want  to  go  again." 

A  half-smile  shone  in  the  doctor's  eye  as  he  replied. 

They  wound  in  and  out  through  clumps  of  trees  ;  modern 
improvement  not  yet  having  cast  its  severe  eye  upon  the 
crooks  in  the  road,  though  perhaps  it  secured  immunity 
by  following  the  river.  Then  there  was  a  more  direct 
way  for  those  whose  time  was  more  precious  than  their 
enjoyment. 

Nelly  noted  the  many  beautiful  points  with  intense 
appreciation.  Dr.  Kinnard  liked  the  quick  look  and  the 
silence.  Nois}^  effusion  was  his  abomination.  He  was 
thinking  now  what  a  delightful  companion  she  would 
make  for  his  hitherto  solitary  rides.  She  was  thinking, 
with  a  strange  awe,  of  her  new  home,  and  offering  up  a 
little  womanly  thanksgiving  for  having  had  her  husband 
all  to  herself  four  delicious  weeks. 

Nelly  Endicott  had  not  married  blindly ;  though,  at 
times,  it  seemed  a  little  odd,  even  to  herself,  and  so  unlike 
her  sisters'  brief,  bright  love-making.  Dr.  Kinnard  had 
met  Mr.  Endicott  at  a  clerical  dinner  given  at  the  house 
of  an  intimate  friend.  A  pleasant*  chord  of  sympathy  was 
touched  by  some  trifling  bit  of  experience.  The  double 
marriage  had  but  recently  occurred ;  and  some  one  joked 
the  good  man  on  his  houseful  of  girls. 

"Seven!"  exclaimed  Dr.  Kinnard.  "Really,  friend 
Endicott,  I  should  like  to  see  this  happy  family." 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  27 

"  It  is  shorn  of  its  glory,"  was  the  reply.  "  There  are 
but  five  left." 

A  hearty  laugh  followed  this  announcement. 

Later,  they  were  discussing  some  new  scientific  discov 
ery,  in  a  corner  by  themselves.  • 

"  My  wife  was  reading  it  aloud  to  me  last  evening; 
and  we  had  quite  a  little  argument.  She  inclines  to  Frere's 
opinion.  I  like  to  go  over  these  things  several  times, 
before  I  form  a  positive  decision." 

The  mother  of  seven  girls  reading  heavy  science  aloud 
to  her  husband,  instead  of  hunting  up  lovers  for  her 
daughters  !  Dr.  Kinnard  stared. 

One  day,  being  in  the  vicinity  of  Wachusett,  he  looked 
up  the  pleasant  rectory,  and  found  himself  beguiled  by  a 
sort  of  pastoral  idyl  that  he  had  hardly  thought  to  meet 
outside  of  books.  The  exquisite  and  simple  home-charm 
did  its  appointed  work  again,  and  touched  a  heart  border 
ing  on  faithlessness  and  cynicism.  He  heard  of  Rose 
and  the  boys,  —  that  remarkable  first  irruption  of  boys 
at  the  rectory ;  he  met  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winthrop,  the 
Churchills,  and  presently  bowed  with  unfeigned  rever 
ence  to  that  pure  and  noble  embodiment  of  womanhood, 
Mrs.  Enclicott. 

So  went  on  three  years  of  friendship.  Nelly,  mean 
while,  unfolded  and  blossomed,  pretty,  arch,  lovable,  and 
with  a  spice  of  innocent  girlish  coquetry,  —  the  love  of 
pleasing  and  being  liked.  Her  city  experience  did  her 
no  harm. 

If  he  had  such  a  daughter  ! 

It  was  absurd,  of  course.  He  could  not  imagine  his 
little  girl  blooming  into  any  of  these  Endicott  graces. 
Yet  if  she  had  proper  training ;  if  aunt  and  grand 
mother  ;  if  the  petty  differences,  bickerings,  and  fussi- 
ness, — but  there  his  thoughts  came  to  a  sudden  blank. 
It  was  not  a  pleasant  home  ;  neither  could  he  alter  these 
women's  natures.  He  had  hardened  himself  to  them 


28  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

instead;  kept  to  his  own  "den,"  where  they  were  for 
bidden  entrance.  But  twenty  or  thirty  years  of  such 
home  isolation  suddenly  looked  unendurable  to  him. 

Then  he  made  an  astounding,  and  at  first  mortifying 
discovery.  His  regard  for  sweet  Nelly  Endicott  was  not 
of  the  fatherly  type.  He  had  blundered  into  something 
deliciously  different,  yet  positively  ridiculous.  Why, 
she  would  laugh  at  such  an  ancient  stick  presuming  to 
make  love  to  her.  No :  he  was  not  quite  such  an  old 
fool  as  that ! 

So  he  kept  away,  shutting  himself  up  in  his  secluded  den, 
or  taking  long  drives.  The  reading,  speculations,  and 
metaphysical  themes,  became  dull.  He  would  not  think 
of  her :  so  he  thought  of  his  past  life,  and  was  amazed 
at  its  bareness,  its  solitar}^  monotony. 

He  had  been  a  hard  student,  and  early  graduate,  look 
ing  forward  to  three  years  in  Germany  as  the  crowning 
pleasure  of  this  toil.  But  his  mother,  having  no  daugh 
ters,  busied  herself  with  matrimonial  projects  for  her  son, 
and  had  selected  Miss  Mary  Grove,  an  heiress,  and  a 
very  stylish  girl.  She  took  them  both  to  Saratoga  with 
her,  and  managed  to  bring  about  an  engagement  in  a 
month's  time. 

It  did  not  keep  him  at  home,  though,  to  her  great 
disappointment.  Miss  Grove  flirted  meanwhile ;  and, 
if  she  had  met  with  a  better  offer,  would  have  thrown 
over  her  betrothed  with  small  compunction.  But  on  his 
return  she  was  twenty-five,  and  beginning  to  fade  :  so 
she  speedily  became  Mrs.  Kinnard.  The  mother,  mean 
while,  had  gone  to  a  neighboring  State  to  be  with  an 
ou\y  and  invalid  sister.  He  thought  that  marriage  would 
give  him  a  better  position  ;  and  in  those  days  love  was  a 
secondarj7  consideration. 

After  three  years  of  city  living  and  practice,  he  felt 
that  he  must  retrench  somewhat.  He  was  fond  of  the 
country ;  and  hearing  of  this  place  at  Edgerly,  where  a 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  29 

physician  had  just  died,  and  whose  estate,  being  heavily 
involved,  was  offered  much  below  its  real  value,  he  made 
his  bargain,  and  then  announced  his  plans. 

It  was  spring ;  and,  since  they  must  make  a  change, 
it  would  be  rather  stylish  to  go  into  the  country.  The 
house  was  large,  roomy,  delightful ;  and  she  could  fill 
it  with  guests.  And,  if  she  was  not  satisfied,  of  course 
there  could  be  another  change. 

The  marriage  had  not  been  a  happy  one  so  far,  —  one 
engrossed  with  the  world,  the  other  with  his  profession. 
She  might  have  persuaded  with  love  and  patience,  but 
she  had  neither ;  and  Dr.  Kinnard  objected  stoutly  to 
being  driven.  A  husband,  in  Miss  Mary  Grove's  estima 
tion,  was  a  sort  of  major-domo  for  outside  affairs,  pro 
viding  houses  and  carriages,  servants  and  monej* ;  asking 
no  questions,  and  making  few  demands  ;  obejang  readily, 
and  keeping  out  of  the  way  for  the  most  part.  Fortunate 
circumstances  had  not  brought  them  into  collision  hith 
erto  ;  but  now  they  really  came  face  to  face  in  the 
struggle  for  power. 

Dr.  Kinnard  was,  of  all  men,  the  hardest  to  struggle 
against.  He  had  a  warm  interest  outside :  he  had,  also, 
the  rare  power  of  holding  his  tongue.  He  would  not 
quarrel  or  dispute  with  a  woman.  He  said  what  he  would 
do ;  and,  when  others  had  expended  their  energy  in 
wrangling,  he  simply  reiterated  his  purpose.  At  the 
birth  of  the  second  baby,  Miss  Adelaide  Grove  was 
added  to  the  family.  After  that,  Mrs.  Kiunard  went 
to  the  city  whenever  she  chose,  and  staid  as  long  as 
she  liked,  without  even  consulting  her  husband.  She 
was  not  going  to  be  buried  alive  in  a  stupid  country- 
place.  But  health  failed,  making  her  more  dependent 
and  exacting,  but  not  more  gentle.  When  she  had 
played  out  neai'ly  all  her  hand,  and  won  nothing,  she 
bethought  herself  of  a  last  resort.  She  demanded  him, 
his  time  and  attention.  If  she  could,  she  would  fain 

3* 


30  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

have  kept  him  from  every  other  patient.  She  upbraided 
him  with  coldness  and  neglect.  Many  a  sharp-pointed 
arrow  she  launched  at  him  ;  but  he,  knowing  that  the  end 
could  not  be  long  delayed,  was  patient. 

It  came  at  last.  It  is  a  sad  thing  so  to  have  lived, 
that  those  who  should  be  nearest  and  dearest  experience 
a  sense  of  relief.  Dr.  Kinnard  did  not  affect  any  violent 
sorrow.  He  was  grave  habitually.  The  neighbors 
pitied  him  and  his  motherless  children,  but  admitted 
that  both  had  an  excellent  friend  in  Miss  Grove.  He 
felt  in  those  early  days  as  if  Adelaide  was  almost  an 
angel,  so  quiet  and  orderly  was  the  house  kept,  so  peace 
ful  was  the  atmosphere. 

It  had  gone  on  up  to'  this  date.  Now  he  began  to 
brood  a  little  over  the  happiness  he  had  missed,  to 
realize  that  matrimony  was  not  the  unalloyed  evil  he  had 
once  believed  it.  He  told  himself,  that,  if  he  did  marry 
again,  it  should  be  some  grave,  kindly,  domestic  woman, 
who  would  be  satisfied  with  the  quiet  pleasures  of  home. 
A  bright  young^girl  was  folly. 

One  day  he  strayed  over  to  Wachusett  again.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Endicott  were  out  in  the  Churchill  carriage. 
Daisy  and  Lily  were  engrossed  with  croquet  and  some 
young  friends.  Nelly  came  to  receive  the  visitor. 

"  Oh,  you  will  stay ! "  she  cried  with  her  most  persua 
sive  smile.  "Papa  would  be  so  disappointed!  He  has 
been  wondering  what  kept  you  away." 

She  asked  it  out  of  innocent  eyes  and  frankest  lips. 
He  saw  it,  and  turned  away.  He  could  tell  her  no 
shambling,  evasive  lie,  nor  yet  the  truth. 

She  remarked  the  strange  demeanor.  "  Has  any  one 
offended  you,  Dr.  Kinnard?"  and  then  she  took  his 
hand,  amazed  at  the  vehement  clasp. 

"It  is  this,  Nelly  :  you.  have  a  right  to  know.  I  have 
been  an  old  fool !  If  I  come  frequently  again,  it  must 
be  as  your  lover,  or  else  I  must  teach  myself  to  stay 
away." 


NELLY  KLNNARD'S  KINGDOM.  31 

If  he  had  kissed  the  scarlet  face,  or  clasped  the  swaying 
figure  in  his  arms,  in  short,  indulged  in  any  vehement 
demonstration,  he  might  have  wrecked  his  cause.  He 
abstained,  from  a  fine  and  rare  delicacy,  walked  beside 
her  to  the  study,  seated  himself  on  "the  capacious  lounge, 
and  began  an  indifferent  conversation.  Nelly  sat  amazed. 
Had  she  missed  any  thing  more  than  her  father's  friend 
during  these  weeks  ? 

The  sound  of  carriage- wheels,  and  the  familiar  voices, 
broke  in  upon  her  dreamy  mood.  Fan  was  there  with 
little  Essie,  who  clapped  her  hands,  and  begged  to  kiss 
"  Edif "  just  one  little  time.  Then  they  came  out  on 
the  porch  again ;  and  there  was  a  cordial  welcome,  a 
merry  chat,  supper,  and  train-time  almost  before  he 
knew.  Ah,  it  would  go  hard  with  him  if  he  could  not 
win  a  daughter  of  this  happy  household. 

With  his  good-by  he  said,  just  under  his  breath,  "  Am 
I  to  come,  Nelly?  Be  generous,  if  you  can." 

Without  raising  her  eyes,  she  held  out  her  hand,  saying 
softly  and  shyly,  "  I  think  you  may." 

A  few  weeks  of  half-covert  courtship,  and  the  regard 
was  declared.  Mrs.  Endicott  had  wisely  discussed  some 
of  the  difficulties  with  her  daughter,  and  then  left  her  to 
the  guiding  hand  of  love,  and  that  wiser  Power  to  whom 
they  had  all  been  taught  to  turn,  not  only  in  sorrow, 
but  in  joy.  He  had  proved  a  somewhat  impatient  lover, 
consenting  to  an  engagement  of  six  months  only. 

And  now  Nelly  Kinnard  had  come  to  her  husband's 
home  and  her  husband's  children.  He  was  no  longer  all 
hers ;  yet  with  a  bright,  happy  smile,  she  walked  up  the 
wide,  flower-bordered  path.  They  should  see  how  willing 
she  was  to  meet  them  more  than  half-wa}*. 

The  hall-door  opened,  and  Mrs.  Kinnard  appeared, 
rather  stiff  and  uncertain  ;  but  the  doctor's  smile  thawed 
her,  and  she  kissed  Nelly's  winsome  face. 

"Where  is  Aunt  Adelaide  and  the  children?"  the 
doctor  asked  in  a  quick  tone. 


32  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

Miss  Grove  answered  the  question  by  sweeping  down 
the  broad  staircase  in  her  voluminous  silk  robe.  Tall 
and  austere-looking,  she  held  out  her  hand  frigidty, 
uttered  her  precise  welcome,  "hoped  the  journey  had 
been  pleasant,  as  the  weather  had  proved  exceedingly 
fine.  No  doubt  Mrs.  Kinnard  would  prefer  to  go  to  her 
room  immediately,  as  travelling  Avas  a  rather  tiresome 
and  dusty  pleasure.  She  would  find  every  thing  con 
venient.  Will  you  go  up,  Barton,  and  show  Mat  what 
you  wish  to  have  done  with  the  trunks  that  came  this 
morning  ?  " 

Mat  had  shouldered  the  travelling-trunk.  Dr.  Kin 
nard  led  his  wife  up  stairs. 

The  house  was  large,  low-ceiled,  with  broad  doorways 
and  a  great  hall,  the  back  part  of  which  was  used  for 
dining-purposes.  The  oaken  stairs  were  uncarpeted  and 
polished.  Above,  half  a  dozen  doors  seemed  to  open ; 
but  the  space  was  wide  and  airy.  They  crossed  the 
threshold  of  the  front  chamber ;  and,  for  a  moment,  Dr. 
Kinnard  stared  oddly,  almost  angrily. 

The  floor  was  covered  with  matting  which  had  an  aged 
and  rather  dingy  look.  An  old-fashioned  bedstead  and 
bureau  of  mahogany,  some  rush-bottomed  chairs  ranged 
against  the  wall,  a  few  faded  pictures,  and,  on  the  mantle, 
two  tall  silver  candlesticks,  with  snuffers  and  tray  in  the 
middle. 

"Upon  my  word!"  and  he  laughed  heartily;  while 
Nelly  glanced  around  blankly.  "  Not  very  inviting,  eh, 
Nelly?  I  will  tell  you  how  it  came.  This  has  been 
kept  as  a  spare  chamber  for  some  time  ;  but  Adelaide 
thought  the  furniture,  which  belonged  to  Maud's  mother, 
ought  to  be  saved  for  her.  When  I  bought  the  house, 
I  took  a  lot  of  old  traps  with  it ;  and  I  daresay  those  are 
some.  I  wanted  to  refurnish  to  please  you  :  so  I  simpty 
said,  "  Take  out  the  things,  and  make  it  comfortable.  It 
certainly  has  not  been  made  beautiful ;  but  we  will  change 
it  in  a  day  or  two." 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  33 

"  Was  this  your  room?  "  Nelly  asked  in  a  low  tone. 

He  seemed  to  understand  the  unspoken  question  as 
well. 

"  No.  It  was  the  other  side  of  the  hall,  next  to 
Adelaide's.  It  is  to  be  Maud's,  I  believe.  I  am  in 
the  habit  of  sleeping  down  stairs  a  great  deal.  Are  you 
tired  ?  Shall  I  unlock  your  trunk  ?  " 

A  strange,  unhomelike  feeling  grew  upon  Nelly  every 
moment ;  but  she  tried  to  smile.  Her  husband  had 
been  awkwardly  and  bashfully  loverlike  these  few  weeks  ; 
and  now  he  unstrapped,  unlocked,  and  lifted  out  the 
tray.  Suddenly  he  paused. 

"  Are  you  not  going  to  take  off  your  hat?  Nelly,  my 
dear  little  woman,  I  want  j'ou  to  feel  that  I,  and  all  I 
have,  belongs  to  ycu,  and  is  at  your  service.  I  want  you 
to  help  me  give  this  place  the  cosey  snugness  of  the 
rectory.  I  have  never  had  such  a  home." 

Very  little  had  been  said  concerning  his  household, 
except  in  the  vague,  incidental  way  that  people  skirmish 
about  subjects  that  may  have  a  little  unpleasantness  in 
them. 

The  place  seemed  queer  to  her,  as  if  she  had  gone  to 
the  verge  of  civilization.  But  she  laid  aside  her  hat, 
then  hid  her  face  on  her  husband's  shoulder. 

"  O  Barton !  "  she  cried,  "  do  you  think  they  will  love 
me?" 

"We  decided,  you  know,  Nelly,  that  it  would  be  a 
work  of  time.  You  must  be  brave,  and  not  easily  dis 
heartened,  my  little  girl.  There  are  few  homes  and  few 
mothers  like  yours,  more's  the  pity,  in  this  weary  world." 

"And  the  children?" 

"  Aunt  Adelaide  has  them  in  very  good  training.  To 
tell  the  truth,"  and  he  sat  down  on  the  edge  of  the  bed, 
"  I  haven't  bothered  my  head  much  about  domestic  man 
agement.  My  womenkind  have  been  glad  to  take  the 
authority,  and  I  am  so  irregular  indoors." 


34  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

He  felt,  too,  that  he  was  not  the  kind  of  father  Nell}' 
Endicott  had  known  and  loved.  Strange  that  his  chil-. 
dren's  stepmother  should  be  first  to  make  him  aware  of  his 
shortcomings  in  that  respect !  Children  were  something  of 
a  bore  to  him  when  he  had  them  year  by  year. 

"I  am  to  be  their  mother,  you  know,"  she  said  in  a 
soft,  pleading  voice. 

He  was  not  quite  sure  but  that  he  had  married  her  for 
his  own  pleasure,  first  of  all,  and  that  every  thing  else 
must  be  a  secondary  consideration. 

"  Don't  perplex  yourself  about  these  matters  until  you 
begin  to  feel  at  home,"  he  returned  in  a  tender  tone.  "  I 
hope  we  shall  all  be  good  friends  ;  but  if  you  please  and 
satisfy  me,  no  one  else  in  the  world  shall  find  fault.  But 
are  you  not  going  to  dress?  Put  on  the  blue  silk,  will 
you  not?  I  like  so  to  see  you  in  it." 

"  Is  there  to  be  company?  " 

"Oh,  no!  And,  while  you  are  getting  ready,  I  will 
run  down  to  my  '  den  '  a  moment." 

Some  one  called  to  him  as  he  ims  passing  through  the 
hall.  Her  ear  was  on  the  alert  for  children's  voices  ;  but 
the  door  was  quickly  shut.  She  bathed  her  hands  and 
face,  laid  aside  her  travelling-dress,  and  began  to  adorn 
herself  for  her  husband's  sake.  She  could  hardly  believe 
that  he  cared  so  much  about  dress ;  and  yet  she  was 
pleased  too.  "  I  hope  he  will  always  take  an  interest  in 
what  I  wear,"  she  thought. 

He  returned  presently,  and  was  barely  ready  when  the 
tea-bell  rang.  He  had  gathered  a  cluster  of  roses  for  her 
hair  ;  and  she  placed  one  in  his  buttonhole  as  they  went 
down  together.  The  children  stood  in  the  hall. 

"  Children,"  Dr.  Kinnard  began  with  a  certain  pleasant 
firmness  and  sense  of  authority  in  his  voice,  which  carried 
weight,  as  a  man's  most  positive  utterances  should, — 
"  children,  I  want  to  make  you  acquainted  with  this  lady, 
whom  I  love,  and  have  brought  home  as  my  wife  and  your 


NELLY  KLNNARD'S  KINGDOM.  35 

mother.     I  want  you  to  love  and  respect  her  as  well,  and 
obey  her  in  all  things  as  you  would  me." 

Maud  made  a  prim  little  courtesj* ;  while  Bertie  shyly 
took  refuge  in  the  folds  of  his  grandmother's  gown. 
Nelly  stooped,  and  kissed  them  both.  Maud  gave  her 
cheek  coldly.  Bertie  flushed,  and,  perhaps  with  a  boy's 
intuitive  chivalry,  returned  the  caress. 

The  table  was  the  perfection  of  neatness  and  good  old- 
fashioned  feasting,  —  several  kinds  of  preserves,  besides 
the  strawberries,  half  a  dozen  kinds  of  cake,  bread,  and 
biscuits.  Nellie  smiled,  thinking  of  the  simple  rectory 
suppers.  But  this  was  in  honor  of  the  bride,  no  doubt. 
Instinctively  she  thought  of  the  "  dinner  of  herbs." 

It  was  a  silent,  constrained  meal.  Dr.  Kinnard  talked 
but  little  at  home ;  and  his  meals  were  oftenest  taken 
alone.  Maud  copied  her  aunt's  formal  politeness,  and 
the  airs  of  a  grown-up  lady.  Nelly  could  hardly  forbear 
smiling  at  the  unchildlike  assumption.  The  prim,  sallow 
little  face  with  its  pursed-up  mouth,  the  light  brown  hair 
drawn  tightly  back  from  the  temples  with  a  comb,  and 
tied  in  a  sort  of  flowing  knot  behind.  Her  dress  was  a 
light  plaid  silk  much  flounced  and  puffed,  finished  with  a 
wrought  linen  collar  and  cuffs,  to  which  were  added  pin 
and  ear-rings  of  handsome  dark  cameo  (her  mother's), 
and  gold  bracelets  much  too  large. 

"  I  wonder  if  she  ever  runs  and  plays  like  other  little 
girls,"  Nelly  commented  inwardly.  "  How  Miss  Grove 
would  be  shocked  by  Tiny  Tim's  cognomen,  mishaps  and 
misadventures,  and  a  host  of  children  in  the  dooryard 
playing  tea,  and  frolicking  in  the  grass  ! " 

At  home,  the  table  at  meal-times  had  been  a  kind  of 
domestic  altar,  on  which  each  one  laid  some  cheerful 
offering,  — a  bright  thought,  a  pleasant  incident,  anecdote, 
plans,  inquiry,  interest.  Every  one  looked  forward  to 
the  meeting,  glad  to  be  together,  and  share  each  other's 
delights,  content  with  the  simplest  fare  and  unfailing 
love. 


36  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

This  was  cold  and  wearisome.  Nelly  was  glad  to  rise, 
and  followed  the  doctor's  mother  into  the  parlor.  It  had 
been  furnished  by  the  first  Mrs.  Kinnard,  and  was  a  rather 
strange  medley.  The  carpet  was  dulled  by  the  furniture 
(faded  scarlet  satin)  ;  and  it  seemed  to  have  been  some 
one's  stud}r  to  crowd  in  it  every  thing  ornamental  that 
could  be  had.  The  walls  were  adorned  with  pictures  in 
worsted-work,  which  had  been  Mrs.  Kinnard's  girlish 
passion.  But  "Rebecca  at  the  Well"  looked  dingy  in 
her  faded  attire,  and  little  Moses  was  very  red  in  the  face, 
while  the  princess  was  brown.  "  Pocahontas  rescuing 
Capt.  John  Smith  "  puzzled  Nelly  for  a  long  while. 

Conversation  languished.  Dr.  Kinnard  plainly  fidg 
eted.  "When  Nelly  could  endure  the  restraint  no  longer, 
she  suddenly  exclaimed,  — 

' '  Can  we  not  go  out  and  walk  among  the  flowers  ?  It 
looks  so  tempting !  and  the  air  is  delightful." 

"  Why,  yes  ;  "  and  Dr.  Kinnard  rose  with  alacrit}'. 

"Will  you  not  come?"  said  Nelly,  holding  out  her 
hand  to  Maud  in  friendly  overture. 

"No,  I  thank  3'ou,"  answered  the  precise  little  voice ; 
and  she  spread  her  ruffled  skirts  farther  over  the  ottoman. 

Nelly  took  her  husband's  arm,  and  sprang  lightly  down 
the  steps. 

Aunt  Adelaide  turned  to  Mrs.  Kinnard  as  if  she  said, 
"  There,  I  told  you  how  it  would  be  !  " 

"  Can  I  go?  "  asked  Bertie  timidly. 

"  Indeed  you  cannot.  Do  you  suppose  they  would  be 
bothered  with  you?  I  was  glad  to  see  you  decline,  Maud : 
she  only  asked  you  out  of  compliment.  You  must  re 
member  this,  my  dear,  and  not  put  yourself  forward. 
Poor  children  !  You  have  lost  your  father  as  surely  as  if 
he  were  dead." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"  We  have  a  vision  of  our  own, 
Ah,  why  should  we  undo  it?  "  —  WOKDSWOKTH. 

THE  house  stood  a  hundred  feet  or  so  from  the  street. 
On  one  side  was  a  chestnut-grove ;  on  the  other  flower, 
fruit,  and  vegetable  gardens.  It  was  on  high  ground, 
and  at  the  back  sloped  quite  precipitately,  with  an  air  of 
wildness.  .A  small  stream  ran  through  this,  which  was  a 
favorite  resort  with  the  doctor,  who  wended  his  way  to  the 
brow  of  it  with  a  familiar  unconsciousness. 

' '  What  an  enchanting  nook ! "  and  Nellie  paused 
suddenly. 

"  Do  you  like  it?  I  am  so  glad!  "  with  a  sense  of 
relief.  "  I  am  an  old  fogy,  I  suspect,  although  I  have 
been  so  uncommonly  frisky  for  a  month ;  and  I  was  just 
wondering,  Nelly  —  ah,  you  are  going  to  laugh  at  me." 

"And,  like  the  children,  '  you  won't  tell  me  just  for 
that. '  But  I  am  not  going  to  laugh  at  you  ;  and  I  do  want 
3'our  confidence." 

She  glanced  up  with  a  sweet  frankness  that  won  him  to 
proceed. 

"I  was  just  wondering  whether  I  had  any  right  to 
covet  3'our  youth  and  brightness,  when  I  could  give  you 
so  little  in  return." 

"Little!  Do  you  call  your  love  a  small  thing?  Is  it 
to  be  that  —  tell  me?  "  in  her  pretty,  imperious  manner. 

"God  forbid  !  "  he  answered  solemnly.  "  It  is  the  pas 
sion  of  my  life."  Then  with  a  sudden  change  of  color 

4  37 


38  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

and  tone,  "But  the  house  seems  a  dull  cage  to  put  you 
in,  my  darling.  Will  you  show  me  how  to  make  it 
brighter,  — like  the  home  I  took  you  from?  " 

"  Gladly,  if  I  may.  I  shall  want  to  spend  half  the 
summer  in  these  enchanting  woods.  I  have  no  sewing  to 
do,  and  no  parish-visiting :  so  I  shall  be  as  idle  as  a 
butterfly." 

"  I  shall  take  you  out  to  drive  with  me.  There  are 
many  pretty  little  villages  around.  Then  there  is  a  very 
passable  library  in  town,  to  which  I  always  subscribe,  as  a 
public-spirited  citizen  should.  And  there  are  some  pleas 
ant  people,  only  I  don't  seem  to  know  much  about  the 
women  in  a  social  way ; "  and  he  made  a  grimace  as  he 
drew  her  down  beside  him  on  a  rustic  seat. 

It  was  so  peaceful  and  dream}',  that  Nelly,  instead  of 
replying,  fell  into  a  re  very.  Her  dream  of  the  new  home 
had  been  rather  highly  colored,  perhaps.  Dr.  Kinnard 
was  as  unlike  her  father  as  possible,  though  a  fancied 
resemblance  had  won  her  in  the  beginning.  He  thought 
a  great  deal  of  his  own  personal  comfort,  and  the  things 
which  pleased  him  ;  tender,  and  with  a  deep  sympathy 
when  his  nature  was  roused,  yet  lacking  altogether  that 
profound  and  vital  Christian  principle  which  actuated  Mr. 
Endicott.  Nelly  had  learned  this  during  her  month  of 
honeymoon.  He  had  been  boundlessly  indulgent  to  her,  — 
partly  because  he  loved  her  very  much,  and  partly  because 
he  had  nothing  else  to  do.  She  was  not  so  unreasonable 
as  to  expect  this  always :  in  fact,  life  was  too  serious  a 
problem  to  her  to  be  spent  in  such  sweet  idleness.  A 
great  work  lay  before  her ;  but  how  was  she  to  begin  ? 
Would  he  help  her  in  it,  guide  with  his  maturer  judgment, 
strengthen  her  with  the  earnest  manliness  that  was  a  part 
of  his  nature  in  his  profession? 

"What  now,  little  one?"  for  the  keen  eyes  had  been 
studying  her.  Down  in  his  heart  he  had  a  fear  of  yearn 
ing  homesickness  for  kith  and  kin  at  Wachusett. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  39 

She  flashed  and  smiled.  "I  was  only  thinking,"  she 
made  answer. 

"  Of  home?  "  he  asked  almost  jealously. 

"No,  not  of  home,"  in  her  clear,  frank  tone,  raising 
her  soft  dark  eyes  to  his,  —  "  of  my  life  here  ;  of  what 
I  must  do." 

' '  The  great  thing  is  to  be  happy.  I  am  not  going  to 
have  your  young  face  clouded  with  cares  and  worries." 

"  I  hope  it  will  not  cloud  easily,"  she  replied  with 
tender  gravity. 

"  I  want  it  bright  and  sweet  for  mjTself,  selfish  old  fel 
low  that  I  am  ;  "  and  he  laughed. 

There  seemed  so  much  to  say !  }-et  how  could  she 
approach  so  delicate  a  matter?  When  Dr.  Kinnard 
chose  to  ignore,  or  pass  over  any  subject,  he  did  it  in  a 
quietly  persistent  manner.  Circumstances,  and  the  kind 
of  women  with  whom  his  life  had  been  passed,  had  ren 
dered  this  necessary  as  a  sort  of  armor.  He  allowed  the 
household  to  have  its  own  way,  except  where  it  interfered 
with  him  personalty.  When  his  mother  had  first  come  to 
Edgerly,  there  had  been  an  undercurrent  of  bickering  and 
complaint.  He  tried  his  best  to  heal  and  smooth,  then  gave 
it  up  firmly.  "  Settle  your  own  affairs,"  he  would  say. 
By  holding  aloof,  he  preserved  the  better  his  own  authority 
when  he  did  speak.  Both  women  found  there  was  a  limit 
they  could  not  pass,  and  that  he  would  not  commit  him 
self  to  either  side.  The  eternal  discussion  of  things,  that 
seems  to  afford  many  women  unalloyed  satisfaction,  proves 
a  bore  to  most  men. 

And,  though  Nelly  felt  in  a  most  confidential  and  ques 
tioning  mood,  she  wisely  refrained,  turning  her  attention 
to  the  landscape,  and  picking  out  two  or  three  points  that 
were  great  favorites  with  him.  It  was  so  delightful  to 
have  a  companion  who  could  appreciate  something  beyond 
a  ball-dress.  And  there  they  sat  until  the  twilight  gloom 
began  to  gather. 


40  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  Come,  it  is  growing  damp,"  he  said  suddenly. 

' '  And  we  have  staid  away  too  long  already ;  but  it  was 
so  beautiful !  Why,  it  is  all  like  a  picture." 

"  It  was  pretty  rough  and  wild  when  I  first  came  here, 
and  had  been  shamefully  neglected.  But  I  was  tired  of 
the  city,  and  took  a  great  fancy  to  it.  Mat  has  a  good 
deal  of  taste  too.  He  is  always  surprising  me  by  some 
improvement.  I  like  to  have  such  work  done  without 
being  pestered  by  a  thousand  questions.  I  don't  expect 
him  to  understand  a  case  of  fever  ;  but  I  might  reasonably 
imagine  him  to  know  about  landscape-gardening." 

"  He  is  very  fond  of  you,  isn't  he?  " 

"Well,  yes.  I  was  his  friend  through  some  hard 
trouble.  He  had  a  drunken  termagant  for  a  wife  ;  and  I 
do  suppose  she  beat  and  neglected  his  little  baby  so  that 
it  was  a  clear  case  of  murder  ;  only  the  law  couldn't  well 
take  hold  of  it.  Then  Mat  fell  sick,  and  I  had  him 
brought  over  here,  and  put  her  in  jail  to  keep  her  away 
from  him.  One  day  she  was  going  on  worse  than  usual, 
when  she  was  taken  with  a  fit,  fell  down  stairs,  and  broke 
her  neck,  and  poor  Mat  was  free." 

' '  What  a  terrible  story  ! " 

"  Yes.  So  the  poor  fellow  staid  right  along  with  me. 
That  must  be  seven  years  ago.  He  is  as  good  as  any  two 
men  I  ever  had,  and,  in  some  ways,  handy  as  a  woman. 
He  always  sweeps  my  rooms,  and  looks  after  my  belong 
ings.  Then  he  has  that  old  country  respect,  which  is  quite 
refreshing  in  these  days  of  insolent  independence." 

They  sauntered  indoors,  unconscious  of  the  unfriendly 
criticisms  of  the  last  half-hour.  The  lamp  was  already 
lighted  ;  and  Nelly  felt  a  little  conscience-smitten. 

' '  Where  is  Bertie  ? ' '  asked  his  father  with  a  quick 
glance. 

"  His  hour  for  retiring  is  invariably  eight.  —  I  think, 
Mrs.  Kinnard,"  addressing  Nelly,  "  that  there  is  nothing 
like  regularity  in  bringing  up  children.  I  have  had  the 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  41 

care  of  Herbert  from  his  birth,  and  he  has  a  peculiar 
will,"  —  "  like  his  father,"  she  longed  to  add,  —  "  and  it 
does  not  answer  to  allow  him  to  overstep  the  slightest 
boundary." 

Nelly  acknowledged  with  a  slight  bow  the  honor  of  a 
remark  addressed  exclusively  to  herself.  She  glanced 
at  Maud,  who  seemed  to  be  in  the  same  position  on  the 
ottoman  that  she  was  an  hour  ago  ;  but  in  her  eyes  there 
was  a  very  weary  look. 

"  Doctor,"  began  Miss  Grove  presently,  "  your  mother 
and  I  have  been  discussing  another  point,  which  we  refer 
to  you.  Of  course,  you  will  have  some  kind  of  a  recep 
tion  to  introduce  Mrs.  Kinnard  into  her  new  sphere. 
What  do  you  say  to  next  Wednesday  evening?" 

Dr.  Kinnard  looked  helplessly  at  his  new  wife. 

"Is  it  necessary?    Do  }^ou  care,  Nelly?  " 

"Necessary!"  echoed  Miss  Grove  indignantly. 
"  Why,  }Tes,  unless  a  man  marries  a  woman  of  whom  he 
is  ashamed." 

"  Then  let  us  have  it,  by  all  means.  Next  week 
Wednesdaj'.  I  must  remember  and  not  make  any  en 
gagement.  There  must  be  some  kind  of  supper,  I  sup 
pose  ?  And  what  else  ?  Dancing,  and  all  that  fol-de-rol  ?  " 

"  If  Mrs.  Kinnard  desires  dancing.  I  do  not  dance 
myself,"  was  the  severe  rejoinder. 

' '  I  think  a  simple  wedding-reception  with  a  supper 
would  be  the  best,"  said  Nelly  quietly.  "It  is  always 
pleasant  to  know  the  people  among  whom  one's  lot  is 
cast." 

' '  There  is  some  very  good  society  at  Edgerly  and 
Westwood,  though,  no  doubt,  quite  different  from  the 
narrow  bounds  of  a  single  parish,"  said  Miss  Grove. 

"  Our  parish  bounds  were  not  very  narrow,"  was  the 
gentle  reply. 

"  Excuse  me,  I  have  alwaj-s  heard  that  Episcopalians 
were  exceedingly  exclusive.  Of  course,  Mrs.  Kinnard, 

4* 


42  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

3-011  will  make  your  first  appearance  in  your  husband's 
church,  as  we  have  a  famity  pew.  And  really,  I  believe 
the  Episcopalians  have  not  gained  much  of  a  foothold 
here.  The  old  church  is  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  town, 
and  is  not  considered  at  all  fashionable." 

"Adelaide,  we  were  discussing  the  party,  if  you 
please,"  said  the  doctor  pointedly.  "Will  you  take 
the  management  of  it  ?  There  are  a  few  people  whom  I 
would  like  to  ask.  —  And,  Nelty,  I  think  you  must  send 
for  Daisy. — And  will  you,"  glancing  at  Miss  Grove, 
"  learn  what  will  be  needed,  and  let  Mat  order  it?" 

"  Certainly,  since  you  put  it  into  my  hands.  Then  we 
will  say  Wednesday  evening  of  next  week.  I  shall  write 
the  invitations  myself,  as  they  are  considered  much  more 
stjiish.  You  can  hand  me  your  list  to-morrow.  Is  that 
nine?  —  Maud,  we  must  say  good-evening,  and  retire. — 
Mrs.  Kinnard,  breakfast  is  at  eight,  dinner  at  half-past 
twelve,  and  supper  at  six,  invariably,  whether  the  doctor 
is  here  or  not.  Irregular  meals  betoken  a  very  careless 
household,  in  my  estimation  ;  and  there  is  nothing  like 
system  for  young  people.  —  Say  good- night,  Maud." 

The  elder  lady  bowed  with  sweeping  stiffness,  and 
Maud  with  almost  comical  primness.  No  tender  good 
night  kiss,  no  cordial  wishes.  The  doctor  gave  a  care 
less  nod,  as  if  he  was  glad  to  be  rid  of  them  thus  easily. 
Then  he  turned  to  his  mother,  and  began  to  make  some 
casual  inquiries  as  to  what  had  transpired  in  his  absence. 

Mrs.  Kinnard,  senior,  had  been  scrutinizing  the  pretty 
doll  her  son  had  so  foolishly  married.  Oddly  enough, 
from  her  first  entrance  as  an  inmate  of  her  son's  house, 
she  had  been  afraid  he  would  marry  Adelaide  Grove. 
Both  women  had  tried  hard  for  the  supremacy  ;  but  Miss 
Grove  kept  that  over  the  children,  and  the  rule  of  the 
household,  in  some  degree.  But  when  his  engagement  to 
that  designing  young  flirt,  Miss  Endicott,  was  announced, 
his  mother  was  astounded. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  43 

"Barton,"  she  said,  "there  is  no  need  whatever  of 
your  marrying  again.  Adelaide  can  look  after  the  chil 
dren  ;  and  I  can  supervise  the  house.  You  will  find  that 
you  are  plunging  yourself  into  a  sea  of  trouble.  But,  if 
you  must  marry,  Adelaide  would  be  so  much  more  suita 
ble.  She  is  nearer  to  the  children  than  any  stranger  can 
be  ;  she  is  experienced,  and"  — 

But  Mrs.  Kinnard  was  not  suffered  to  recount  the 
newty  discovered  virtues  of  Adelaide  Grove. 

"Mother,"  said  Dr.  Kinnard,  with  a  solemnity  that 
effectually  hushed  caviling,  "I  pleased  you  }Tears  ago 
by  marrjing  Mary  Grove  :  now  I  shall  please  myself  by 
marrying  Nelly  Endicott.  As  for  the  children,  in  their 
own  mother's  lifetime  they  were  left  to  the  care  of  ser 
vants  and  Aunt  Adelaide.  When  they  are  old  enough,  I 
shall  send  them  away  to  school.  Miss  Endicott  has  been 
brought  up  amongst  children ;  and,  if  I  were  to  die  in  a 
3*ear's  time,  I  could  leave  mine  in  no  better  hands.  I 
hope  you  will  love  and  welcome  her  as  a  daughter ;  but 
I  am  marrying  her  for  nr^self  alone." 

Mrs.  Kinnard  was  awed  by  her  son's  manner  ;  and  she 
admitted  to  herself  that  he  was  of  an  obstinate  turn. 
But  now  she  fancied  that  it  really  had  been  the  desire  of 
her  life,  instead  of  the  dread,  that  Adelaide  should  fill 
this  position.  So  the  two  women  formed  a  tacit  league, 
cemented  by  mutual  disappointment.  If  Dr.  Kinnard 
had  not  married  at  all,  Miss  Grove  would  have  been 
satisfied ;  but  that  he  should  dare  to  choose  youth  and 
beauty  in  preference  to  experience  and  money  was  an 
insult.  Since  she  could  not  venture  to  retaliate  upon 
him,  she  nursed  her  indignation,  and  kept  it  warm  for 
the  new-comer. 

Nelly  understood,  and  was  chilled  by  the  coldness. 
She  tried  to  keep  up  a  little  conversation ;  but  it  was 
difficult.  Dr.  Kinnard  was  annoyed  by  his  mother's 
want  of  cordiality,  yet  he  felt  that  some  excuse  was  due 


44  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

her  age,  and  that,  at  her  time  of  life,  people  did  not  readily 
adapt  themselves  to  changes.  But  it  was  so  different  at 
the  rectory !  That  atmosphere  of  love,  and  frank,  unaf 
fected  gayety,  had  in  it  such  an  air  of  wholesome,  winning 
warmth ;  it  so  soon  broke  through  the  crust  of  selfish 
reserve ;  it  gave  so  freely  of  its  best,  making  a  contin 
ual  feast,  alike  for  the  chosen  guest,  the  wayfarer,  and 
the  home-circle. 

It  was  a  relief  when  the  elder  lady  retired.  Aunt  Ade 
laide  had  not  condescended  to  make  a  second  appearance. 

Nelly  drew  a  long  breath.  Dr.  Kinnard  roused  him 
self  from  a  mood  of  though tfulness. 

"  I  daresay  you  are  tired  to  death.  I'll  take  a  look  in 
the  office,  and  then  we  will  go  up  stairs." 

"  Oh !  let  me  go  with  you.  I  want  to  see  your  den ;  " 
and  Nelly's  face  was  so  animated  and  eager,  that  he 
smiled  fondly. 

"  Come  along,  then.  I'll  call  Jane  to  shut  up  the 
parlor.  It's  a  dreary  place  to  me:  parlors  alwaj-s  are  — 
except  yours  at  the  rectory." 

"  That  was  hardly  a  parlor.  Do  you  know  I  like  the 
old  term  so  much  better,  —  drawing-room  ?  It  seems  as 
if  people  might  draw  together  from  mutual  interest  and 
sympathy ;  but  the  word  '  parlor '  makes  me  think  of  a 
room  handsomely  furnished,  and  darkened  to  sombreness, 
where  you  receive  ceremonious  calls." 

He  laughed.  They  had  crossed  the  hall ;  and,  finding 
the  door  locked,  he  said,  — 

"  I  will  go  around  and  open  it.  Nay,  don't  come. 
You'll  break  your  neck  over  the  rubbish." 

She  had  learned  in  her  month  of  honej^moon  that  Dr. 
Kinnard  was  prompt  to  exact  obedience  in  little  things.  It 
fretted  him  to  have  a  person  disregard  his  orders,  and  do 
something  a  little  different,  when  the  first  request  would 
have  been  no  more  trouble.  There  was  no  foolish  pride 
on  Nelly's  part ;  perhaps  because  her  mother  had  set  that 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  45 

noblest  of  all  examples,  —  obedience.  There  had  been 
a  certain  riotous  lawlessness  at  the  rectory,  though  it  was 
more  exuberance  of  spirit  than  any  positive  disregard  of 
authority. 

"  I  have  kept  you  waiting,"  he  said  in  apology.  "  My 
lamp  was  not  in  perfect  order.  This  is  my  office.  Does 
it  wear  a  formidable  aspect  ? ' ' 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  think  it  the  most  homelike  place 
I  have  seen.  Why,  you  are  a  very  king  here,"  she  said 
gayly. 

The  room  was  large,  with  three  windows  across  the 
front,  and  a  side-entrance  leading  out  on  a  smaller  porch, 
much  used  by  the  doctor  and  his  patients.  On  the  hall- 
side  it  was  filled  with  book-shelves,  with  the  exception  of 
the  doorway,  and  also  the  corner  by  the  chimney.  On 
the  opposite  side  stood  a  great  Turkish  lounge,  covered 
in  russet  leather,  and  several  capacious  arm-chairs.  The 
carpet  was  soft,  and  in  rich,  subdued  colors.  There  was 
a  large  table  in  the  centre,  covered  with  books  and  pam 
phlets,  and  just  over  this  a  swinging-lamp,  with  a  white 
porcelain  shade.  Then  there  were  pictures,  brackets, 
busts,  antique  vases,  and  various  odds  and  ends,  that 
only  a  man  with  a  peculiar  and  cultivated  taste  would  be 
likely  to  collect. 

"And  this  is  my  'den.'  It  is  in  confusion  now;  for 
Adelaide  sent  down  some  of  the  things  that  used  to  be  in 
the  sleeping-room." 

"  I  thought  that  looked  exceedingly  bare  and  prim," 
Nelly  said  mirthfully.  "May  I  not  make  a  raid,  and 
reclaim  some  of  them?  or  do  you  delight  in  confusion?" 

"Well,  not  exactly.  You  see,  the  women  are  forbidden 
this  part  of  the  house.  I  like  Mat's  care  better.  He 
does  not  stow  articles  away  in  unheard-of  places,  and  then 
argue  an  hour  concerning  the  fitness  and  propriety  of  it." 

Nelly  had  too  much  wisdom  to  resent  the  exclusion  of 
the  family  in  general.  Yet  a  kind  of  nearness  and  home- 


46  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

feeling  was  established  at  once  between  her  and  the 
rooms.  This  one  contained  an  odd  collection,  —  a  large 
piece  of  furniture,  not  unlike  an  old-fashioned  mahogany 
sideboard,  with  capacious  closets  at  the  bottom,  and  sev 
eral  rather  curiously  carved  shelves  at  the  top,  on  which 
was  a  promiscuous  collection ;  a  wardrobe ;  a  roomy 
writing-desk ;  and  a  great  square-cornered  sofa,  where  one 
might  sleep  very  comfortably  indeed. 

"  You  see,"  went  on  the  doctor  in  an  explanatory 
manner,  "  I  do  sleep  here  a  great  deal.  Mother,  Aunt 
Adelaide,  and  the  children  have  the  rooms  over  opposite. 
There  is  a  stairway  here,  which  leads  to  the  room  above : 
so  you  see,  by  that  means,  I  keep  quite  to  myself.  That 
connects  again  with  the  spare  chamber,  our  room." 

"  Then  I  can  visit  you  without  any  trouble,  as  I  foresee 
already  that  I  shall  take  a  great  fancy  to  this  '  den '  of 
yours.  Do  not  be  surprised  if  I  bring  a  work-basket  and 
a  rocking-chair,  and  make  myself  at  home." 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  bestowed  upon  her  a 
humorous  smile. 

"Will  you  allow  me  to  light  a  cigar,  Mrs.  Kinnard? 
I  am  full  of  confirmed  bachelor-habits  ;  and  I  cannot 
give  up  the  privileges  of  this  den." 

She  nodded  a  gay  little  assent.  He  came  and  sat  down 
on  the  sofa,  put  his  arm  around  her,  and  drew  her  nearer 
to  him.  It  was  so  strange,  and  yet  so  delightful,  to  have 
some  one  to  pet ;  though  there  was  an  occasional  shy 
awkwardness  that  amused  Nelly. 

"  I  hope  you  will  soon  get  to  feeling  at  home,"  he 
began  presently. 

' '  I  shall  do  my  best.  And  if  they  will  all  love  me  a 
little"— 

"  Will  not  my  love  satisfy?  " 

"  But  have  I  not  taken  upon  myself  duties  towards 
the  others  as  well?  The  children  " — 

"  Aunt  Adelaide  is   to   teach  them,  for   the  present. 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  47 

When  they  are  a  little  older,  I  shall  pack  them  off  to 
school." 

It  sounded  so  hard  and  unsympathetic  to  her,  fresh 
from  a  centre  of  family  affection.  It  would  be  an  easy 
way  of  solving  the  difficulty,  no  doubt. 

"  I  cannot  help  but  think  that  home  is  the  best  place 
for  a  girl ;  that  is,  if  it  is  the  right  kind  of  a  home." 

"  Exactly,  Nelly.  But,  with  all  due  deference  to  your 
loving  and  generous  heart,  I  think  a  few  weeks  will  con 
vince  you  that  there  are  some  very  inharmonious  influ 
ences  here,  and  that  this  cannot  truly  be  called  a  model 
home.  Maud,  as  you  must  have  seen  to-night,  is  a  per 
fect  little  prig.  I  don't  complain  of  her  quiet,  or  her 
nice  manners,  but  the  primness,  and  air  of  consequence. 
She  knows  that  when  she  is  of  age  she  will  have  quite  a 
little  fortune.  The  money  their  mother  left  was  invested, 
and  will  not  be  touched  until  then.  Bertie  is  rough  in 
many  waj's,  and  has  serious  faults ;  but  I  have  insisted 
that  he  should  not  be  clipped  and  trained  into  a  Miss 
Nancy.  I  cannot  abide  girlish  boys.  Aunt  Adelaide  has 
queer  notions,  and  is  sure  her  way  is  best  and  right." 

' '  Must  she  have  charge  of  the  children  ? ' '  asked  Nelly 
timidly. 

"I  couldn't  well  send  her  away.  She  came  here  at 
Bertie's  birth ;  and  she  was  needed  sorely  enough,  God 
knows.  She  was  very  different  from  —  the  children's 
mother.  After  her  death,  she  took  sole  charge  of  them  ; 
and  I  must  admit  they  have  not  lacked  any  material 
comfort.  I  daresay  you  have  discovered  by  this  time, 
Nelly,  that  I  am  not  extravagantly  fond  of  children." 

She  had,  indeed.  She  saw  how  very  easily  she  could 
crowd  them  out  of  their  father's  heart. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  a  fault.  While  I  could  never  beat  or 
starve  a  little  child,  or  thwart  it  of  any  needful  pleasure, 
still  children  do  not  interest  me  as  a  book  or  an  educated 
companion  does.  Therefore  I  was  relieved  to  have  Aunt 


48  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

Adelaide  take  them  so  completely  off  my  hands.  And 
I  felt  it  would  be  really  ungenerous  to  refuse  her  a  year 
or  two  more,  because  I  had  consulted  my  own  pleasure  in 
marrying  you." 

"  You  were  quite  right  there,  I  think.  It  would  have 
been  very  hard." 

"  You  see,  I  never  expected  to  marry.  But  at  last  I 
began  to  long  for  a  little  dark-eyed  witch,  my  neighbor's 
daughter ;  and  my  resolves  were  scattered  to  the  winds." 

' '  And  if  you  should  repent  ? " 

"Nelly,  you  must  not  let  me!"  and  he  pressed  her 
closer,  with  a  vehement  clasp.  UI  am  not  fickle  or 
unreasonable  in  my  demands,  —  queer,  I  may  be.  Can't 
you  take  some  of  the  quirks  out  of  me?  —  not  b}^  any 
sudden  wrenching-off,  but  the  gentler  treatment,  when  a 
man's  vanity  is  not  wounded,  and  he  doesn't  realize  that 
he  is  being  managed.  I  think  there  may  be  some  good 
traits  in  my  nature ;  but  they  have  been  overlaid  with 
rubbish  of  all  sorts." 

"  It  will  be  my  first  entertaining  duty  to  go  on  a 
vo3~age  of  discovery,"  she  answered  playfully. 

"What  were  we  talking  of?  Oh!  Aunt  Adelaide. 
Well,  j'ou  see  at  this  juncture,  I  could  not  well  send 
her  away,  or  refuse  her  the  oversight  of  her  sister's 
children  for  a  while  longer.  But  when  they  go  to  school, 
—  ah,  Nelly,  I  have  solved  the  puzzle  !  "  and  he  laughed 
heartily,  in  his  mellow,  wholesome  manner. 

"You  will  prescribe  matrimony?  Ah,  you  see  I  am 
good  at  guessing  ; "  and  she  gave  an  audacious  little  smile. 

' '  But  who  will  bell  the  cat  ? "  and  an  expression  of 
comical  anxiety  pervaded  his  face. 

"Ah!  your  expedient  has  one  weak  side.  No  doubt 
there  are  men  who  would  be  only  too  glad  to  take  Miss 
Grove  and  her  money ;  but  she  is  too  wise  a  woman  to 
make  a  very  poor  bargain.  And  she  may  have  had 
some  "  — 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  49 

"Love-episode,  you  think?  No:  I  don't  believe  her 
heart  is  in  any  one's  grave.  But  we  must  make  the  best 
of  her  as  she  is  ;  and  you  must  not  feel  hurt,  my  darling, 
at  any  coldness  or  reserve  on  her  part." 

He  pressed  his  young  wife  to  his  heart.  She  was 
prett}?-  and  sweet,  and  had  that  beguiling  way  of  womanly 
wisdom  which  enchanted  him,  while  he  had  not  abounding 
faith  in  it.  He  had  seen  so  much  of  life,  of  women,  of 
matrimony,  that  sometimes  he  was  tempted  to  scoff  a 
little.  And  yet  he  felt,  that,  for  the  first  time,  a  true  and 
simple  love  had  blossomed  in  his  pathway.  No  one 
should  snatch  it  from  him :  he  even  hated  to  think  that 
any  one  should  share  it.  With  the  unreasonableness  of 
a  man's  strong  and  imperious  passion,  he  half  wished 
they  could  go  away  by  themselves,  and  shut  out  the  rest 
of  the  world. 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  He  that  hath  a  victory  lost 
May  discomfit  yet  a  host ; 
And  it  often  doth  befall, 
He  who  conquers  loses  all." 

NELLY  slept  late  the  next  morning,  and  had  just  time  to 
hurry  down  to  breakfast.  Jane  was  inexorable  about  the 
meals,  as  far  as  the  family  were  concerned,  and  agreed 
famously  on  this  point  with  Miss  Adelaide ;  but  to  the 
master  she  was  all  indulgence.  She  would  leave  any 
work  to  spread  a  dainty  feast  for  him.  She  had  not  ap 
proved  of  this  marriage. 

' '  It's  a  foolish  thing ;  and  the  doctor  will  be  sorry 
enough  when  he  comes  to  his  senses,"  she  said  to  Mat  on 
the  wedding-day.  "But  men  never  do  know  when  they 
are  well  off.  I'm  not  going  to  have  any  pert  young  thing 
ordering  around  in  my  kitchen,  I  can  tell  you !  " 

So  when  Jane  met  her  in  the  hall,  in  the  bloom  and 
freshness  of  her  youth,  and  her  pretty  white  morning- 
dress,  with  roses  at  her  throat,  leaning  so  familiarly  on 
the  arm  of  the  doctor  (whom  she  respected  to  the  utter 
most,  and  really  felt  a  little  afraid  of) ,  a  frown  darkened 
her  face. 

The  rest  were  in  their  places.  Maud  looked  thinner 
and  more  sallow  in  her  yellowish  brown-linen  dress,  elab 
orately  embroidered  with  black,  the  ruffle  of  the  same 
not  relieved  in  the  slightest.  Both  children  responded 
rather  shyly  to  Nelly's  joyous  good-morning.  The  ladies 
made  a  few  commonplace  comments  ;  the  doctor  talked  a 
60 


NELLY  KDSTNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  51 

little  business  ;  and  the  meal  was  hurried  through.  Out 
side,  countless  roses  were  blooming ;  but  not  one  graced 
the  table  or  the  apartment. 

' '  Will  you  give  me  the  list  of  people  whom  you  would 
like  invited  next  week  ?  "  asked  Miss  Grove,  as  she  rose. 

"Yes. — Nelly,  come  in  the  office  a  moment,  will  you?" 
and  the  doctor  placed  his  hand  on  her  shoulder. 

Maud  stared.  So  did  Jane,  who  had  just  entered  to 
remove  the  breakfast-dishes.  Asked  in  the  office,  where 
no  one  else  was  tolerated  ! 

Nelly  followed,  unconscious  of  the  great  favor. 

Mrs.  Kiunard  turned  to  Miss  Grove.  "  What  shall  we 
order  for  dinner  to-day?"  She  always  consulted  Miss 
Grove,  though  at  first  she  had  made  a  great  effort  to  get 
the  supreme  power  in  her  hands.  She  looked  after  the 
house,  did  the  mending,  and  was  the  intermediate  link 
between  Jane  and  Miss  Grove. 

All  parties  would  have  been  still  further  scandalized 
had  they  seen  the  doctor  kiss  Nelly's  peachy  cheek,  and 
turn  her  around  in  undisguised  admiration. 

"  Now,  my  dear  girl,  if  you  will  sit  down  and  scribble 
off  a  list  of  names  for  me,  "while  I  look  over  a  few  busi 
ness  matters.  I  ought  to  have  done  it  last  night,  instead 
of  making  love  to  you ;  and  there  will  be  no  rest  for 
Aunt  Adelaide  until  this  party  is  well  under  way." 

"  And  you  don't  like  parties?  " 

"Who  said  I  didn't,  eh?  I  am  not  quite  an  old  bear! 
There  will  be  some  pleasant  people,  whom  I  really  do 
want  you  to  know.  And  it  is  the  fashion,  I  suppose. 
The  part  I  shall  not  enjoy  is  the  being  up  on  exhibition. 
But,  if  people  will  dance,  they  must  pay  the  piper." 

Nelly  smiled,  and  said  she  was  ready. 

Dr.  Kinnard  repeated  a  few  names,  and  then  lost  him 
self  in  some  perplexing  figures.  Rousing  suddenly,  and 
seeing  Nell}-  in  an  expectant  attitude,  he  went  on,  with 
sundry  breaks,  until  the  list  was  finished. 


52  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

He  ran  his  eyes  over  it.  "I  daresa}T  it  will  vex  Aunt 
Adelaide  a  little  ;  but  I  want  some  of  my  friends  as  well. 
Now  run  and  get  yourself  ready,  and  we  will  go  in  town." 

Nelly  made  her  bed,  dusted  her  antique  furniture,  ex 
plored  her  closets,  hung  up  a  few  dresses,  and  then  put 
on  her  pretty  silvery  gray  suit.  She  laid  her  hat  and 
gloves  on  the  bed,  and  sat  down  by  the  window  to  wait, 
espying.  Bertie  off  in  the  distance,  climbing  a  fence. 
The  scene  was  delightful,  varied  by  little  hills  with  breaks 
between,  and  the  river  winding  about  in  the  distance. 
Presentl}'  a  bell  rang  that  set  Nelly  to  wondering. 

It  was  for  Herbert,  but  had  to  be  rung  sharply  a  second 
time.  Then  he  came  hurrying  up  the  steps  in  a  noisy 
fashion. 

"Herbert,"  said  his  aunt,  "go  down  stairs,  and  come 
up  as  a  gentleman  should.  I  am  ashamed  of  you  this 
morning.  Ever  since  you  have  been  allowed  to  go  over 
in  the  woods,  you  have  grown  wilder  and  ruder." 

He  came  up,  and  the  door  was  closed.  Nelly  was  tired 
of  her  lonely  idleness,  and  began  to  unpack  a  few  articles. 
What  a  dreary  look  the  room  had,  and  the  parlor  down 
stairs  !  Would  she  ever  feel  at  home  ?  Would  she  ever 
dare  to  say,  "Mother"  to  Mrs.  Kinnard.  She  winked 
a  tear  out  of  the  corner  of  her  eye.  And  here  were  her 
pretty  vases  and  ornaments,  bridal  gifts  some  of  them. 
She  would  have  the  brackets  put  up  ;  and,  when  the  new 
furniture  came,  her  room  should  be  bright  and  cheerful. 

"  Nelly,"  called  the  doctor  ;  and  she  ran  down. 

"  Here  is  one  of  my  good  friends,  to  whom  I  want  to 
introduce  you, — Judge  Denslow." 

Nelly  bowed  to  a  short,  stout,  fresh-colored,  and  good- 
humored  person ;  and  there  followed  a  little  pleasantry, 
with  congratulations. 

"  Are  you  out  for  a  morning-walk?"  noticing  her  hat. 

"  Oh,  no !  I "  —  and  Nelly  looked  at  her  husband  with 
a  sudden  flush. 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  53 

"  I  was  to  take  her  out,"  interposed  the  doctor. 

"  Really,  Mrs.  Kinnard,  you  have  made  a  good  begin 
ning.  Now,  I  always  have  to  wait  for  my  women-folks. 
The  sex,  as  a  general  thing,  is  half  an  hour  behindhand." 

"That  is  something  of  a  libel.  TSay  the  exceptions 
are,"  she  returned. 

"It  wouldn't  do  for  me  to  go  back  on  my  word,  you 
see:  I  should  lose  weight;"  and  there  was  a  mirthful 
twinkle  in  his  eye. 

Another  interruption  occurred.  "  The  doctor  was 
wanted  right  away  at  Mis'  Gale's.  Mr.  Gale  had  been  in 
cramps  all  night.  They  only  heard  an  hour  ago  that  the 
doctor  was  home.  The  wagon  was  here,  and  he  could  go 
right  back." 

"Very  well:  I  won't  be  long,  Nelly.  —  Don't  hurry 
off,  judge;"  and,  seizing  his  hat,  the  doctor  vanished. 
Judge  Denslow  remained  a  while  longer,  then  made  his 
adieus.  Nelly  looked  over  the  books,  straightened  a  pic 
ture,  dusted  the  furniture,  and  gave  an  air  of  tidiness  to 
the  place,  without  any  officious  meddling  or  neatness. 
Then  she  glanced  in  the  "  den."  How  she  should  like  to 
take  some  nice  quiet  da}",  —  ah  !  all  days  would  be  quiet 
enough  here,  —  and  make  this  room  pretty  and  homelike  ! 
She  had  an  inward  famry  that  she  should  use  it  a  great 
deal.  The  sitting-room  did  not  look  very  cosey  or  invit 
ing  ;  and  there  was  no  other  refuge  beside  her  own 
apartment.  She  could  sew  here,  and  read  ;  and,  her  hus 
band  would  have  a  welcome  smile  the  instant  he  entered 
the  house. 

He  rushed  in  then.  "Oh,  here  you  are !  v«.  he  cried 
in  a  quick  tone.  "  I  was  detained  longer  than  I  expected. 
Mat  has  Dolly  all  ready :  so  come  along." 

With  that  he  hurried  her  out,  and  packed  her  into  the 
buggy  ;  and  in  a  minute  they  were  spinning  down  the 
road.  She  thought  about  the  list  of  invitations  that  was 
lying  on  the  study-table ;  but  she  would  not  annoy  him 
now  by  speaking  of  it.  5* 


54  NELLY  KIKNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

There  were  a  few  calls  on  the  way ;  and  several  friends 
came  out  to  the  carriage  to  see  the  doctor's  new  wife.  His 
marriage  had  taken  Edgerly  quite  by  surprise ;  because 
most  people,  if  they  thought  about  it  at  all,  fancied  he 
would  end  by  marrying  Miss  Grove. 

Edgerly  was  a  rather  pretty  town,  being  built  partly  on 
the  side-hill,  where  the  rows  of  cottages  and  terraced 
gardens  reminded  Nelly  of  a  Swiss  picture.  The  business 
streets  wore  a  brisk  air,  with  their  stores  and  offices,  and 
the  continual  passing  of  pedestrians. 

"We  haven't  said  a  word  about  what  we  want,"  ex 
claimed  the  doctor  suddenly.  "  I  don't  believe  I  know 
much  about  such  affairs.  I  never  furnished  a  room  in  my 
life.  When  it  is  done,  I  can  tell  whether  I  like  it  or 
not." 

"You  mean  to  refurnish  it  completely?"  asked  Nelly 
rather  timidly. 

"  Why,  of  course.  We  must  have  something  that 
looks  a  little  more  like  jon.  We  need  a  pretty  carpet  to 
begin  with ;  and  here  is  just  the  place." 

So  they  went  in  ;  and  the  clerks  displayed  their  wares 
with  alacrity.  For  a  moment  an  odd  misgiving  crossed 
Nelly's  mind.  How  rich  was  Dr.  Kinnard,  and  ought  she 
to  buy  a  beautiful  Brussels  carpet  for  her  sleeping-room  ? 
But  the  doctor  tumbled  them  over,  examined,  and  finally 
narrowed  the  choice  to  three,  all  of  which  were  unusually 
pretty,  Nelry  thought :  so  her  scruples  went  to  the  winds, 
and  she  made  her  selection. 

"And  now  for  some  furniture.  Nelly,  I  suppose  you 
have  a  woman's  love  for  the  regulation  black  walnut  ?  " 

"  I  really  do  not  know,"  was  the  slow  reply. 

"  Perhaps  I  associate  it  a  great  deal  with  sickness,"  he 
said.  "  But,  in  spite  of  its  richness,  it  has  a  gloomy  look 
to  me,  as  if  it  was  more  fit  for  dowagers  than  }'oung 
wives.  I  am  a  queer  old  fellow,  am  I  not?" 

Nelly  smiled,  and  resolved  that  the  room  should  be 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  55 

light  and  bright.  After  some  search,  the}-  found  a  suit  to 
their  taste,  and  ordered  it. 

"  Upon  my  word,"  declared  the  doctor,  "  you  must  be 
an  exception  in  shopping.  Here  we  are  all  through,  and 
with  some  time  still  on  our  hands.  Let  me  see  —  we  can 
drop  into  the  library ;  and  I  will  introduce  you  to  Mr. 
Grey.  And  there  is  quite  a  pretty  picture-store,  where 
I  have  fallen  into  the  bad  habit  of  idling  away  my  time. 
It  will  not  look  quite  so  grand  after  our  city  experiences  ; 
but  now  we  have  come  back  to  plain  country-life." 

Nelly  thought  of  the  dinner,  and  would  not  allow  him 
to  loiter  so  much  to-day.  But  then  he  wanted  to  show 
her  one  of  his  favorite  drives,  and  it  was  the  longest  ~wa,y 
home.  The  family  were  seated  around  the  table,  and  the 
dessert  had  been  brought  on. 

"  You  left  no  word,"  began  Miss  Grove ;  "  and  I  do 
endeavor  to  make  my  own  and  the  children's  habits 
regular." 

"Oh,  that  is  all  right  enough!"  he  replied,  as  Nelly 
went  to  take  off  her  hat  and  gloves.  Then  he  glanced 
over  the  table.  "Has  anything  been  kept  warm?"  he 
asked. 

"How  could  Jane,  when  she  did  not  know  what  time 
you  might  be  expected  ?  "  was  the  reply,  in  a  complaining 
tone. 

Nelly  returned  at  that  moment,  and  took  her  seat  beside 
her  husband.  Miss  Grove  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
with  a  child  on  either  hand.  Dr.  Kinnard  was  a  trifle 
touched  and  mortified  to  have  Nelly  crowded  into  a 
secondary  place.  She  ought  to  be  mistress.  And  this 
cold  meat  wasi  not  very  inviting,  carved  half  an  hour  ago, 
nor  the  lukewarm  vegetables.  But,  while  he  was  con 
sidering,  an  imperative  summons  came  for  him. 

"I  must  go  straight  to  Lakeland,"  he  said;  "  and  I 
may  not  be  back  until  evening."  Then  he  lapsed  into 
silence  and  hurried  eating  ;  while  Mrs.  Kinnard  and  Miss 
Grove  kept  up  a  small  stream  of  neighborhood  gossip. 


56  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

Nelly  followed  him  to  the  office,  and  made  her  adieus 
out  of  the  reach  of  prying  eyes. 

"Don't  get  lonesome,  little  girl.  I  wish  I  could  take 
you  ;  but  I  cannot  now.  Good-by." 

She  had  not  the  courage  to  go  back  and  finish  her  des 
sert,  though  she  admitted  rather  grimly  to  herself  that 
she  was  still  hungry.  Bertie  had  half  an  hour  for  play  at 
noon;  while  Maud 'went  to  her  music-practice.  Nelly 
retired  to  her  room,  and  settled  a  few  more  articles  in  the 
pantry.  Then  she  bethought  herself  of  letters  to  write ; 
and  she  had  a  presentiment  that  she  could  write  better 
now  than  when  she  came  to  have  more  experience  with 
the  household,  since  at  present  she  could  judge  them  as 
strangers. 

She  went  down  to  the  office,  and  ensconced  herself  in 
an  easy-chair,  finding  so  much  to  say,  that  the  time  passed 
rapidly.  Once  her  attention  was  aroused  by  a  prettjr 
pony-phaeton  being  driven  to  the  door.  Aunt  Adelaide 
and  Maud  stepped  off  the  porch,  and  took  their  seats. 
Then  the  house  grew  lonesomely  quiet ;  for  Bertie  had 
gone  out  to  play.  After  her  letters  were  finished,  she 
took  a  short  walk,  but  met  no  one.  Even  Mrs.  Kinnard 
did  not  seem  to  be  visible  anywhere.  She  was  thapkful 
to  hear  the  tea-bell  ring,  though  she  felt  something  like 
an  interloper,  as  she  went  out  alone. 

"  Did  you  have  a  pleasant  drive  this  afternoon,  Maud," 
she  asked,  when  the  silence  grew  oppressive. 

Maud  glanced  at  Aunt  Adelaide  ;  then,  pursing  up  he  r 
mouth,  replied  that  it  was  pleasant. 

"  And  you  are  very  fond  of  it,  I  daresay.  The  pony 
and  phaeton  are  a  perfect  match." 

"  They  are  Aunt  Adelaide's,"  volunteered  Bertie. 

"  Herbert !  "  said  his  aunt  warning!}'. 

4 '  I  suppose  you  would  like  to  have  a  pony  of  3'our  very 
own,  Bertie?"  Nelly  ventured  in  a  friendly  tone,  desirous 
of  being  social  with  some  one. 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  57 

"  You  bet !  "  was  the  eager,  boyish  reply. 

"Herbert,  leave  the  table  immediately.  How  often 
have  I  told  }TOU  that  I  will  not  tolerate  slang ;  and  this  is 
the  second  time  I  have  had  to  speak  to  you,"  said  his 
annt  in  a  severe  tone. 

"O  Miss  Grove!  allow  me  to  intercede  for  him," 
exclaimed  Nelly,  blushing  like  a  culprit  herself;  and 
Bertie  hesitated  a  moment,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon 
her. 

' '  Herbert,  you  will  go  straight  to  bed  for  this  disobe 
dience.  I  shall  come  up  to  your  room  presently.  — Mrs. 
Kinnard,  I  beg  leave  to  explain  that  I  have  the  care  of 
these  motherless  children.  Your  good  sense  will  show 
you  that  any  interference  is  not  only  injudicious,  but  quite 
unfortunate  in  regard  to  them.  Too  many  masters  end 
by  spoiling  the  child,  as  I  have  explained  to  the  doctor ; 
and  3-ou  will  admit  that  obedience  is  a  child's  first  and 
best  lesson.  Without  that,  you  cannot  do  any  thing." 

Herbert  went  reluctantly.  For  an  instant,  indignation 
threatened  to  overmaster  Nelly  ;  but,  with  a  strong  effort 
at  self-control,  she  kept  silent,  though  her  face  was 
burning  with  a  crimson  flush.  She  felt,  that,  if  Dr. 
Kinnard  had  been  present,  Miss  Grove  would  not  have 
dared  quite  so  much.  It  was  cruel,  too,  to  send  a  hungry 
child  to  bed  supperless  ;  and  she  could  not  but  feel  that 
all  this  assumption  of  authority  was  an  insult  to  her. 

"We  called  a^t  the  Blairs'  to-day,"  began  Miss  Grove, 
addressing  the  elder  Mrs.  Kinnard.  "  They  are  still  in 
grief  about  their  son's  unfortunate  marriage." 

"Oh,  do  tell  me!  Will  they  recognize  her?  Such  a 
shameless  thing  as  it  was  ! " 

' '  They  have  not  asked  her  home  yet.  Walter  Blair  has 
come  into  possession  of  his  uncle's  estate,  you  know ;  and 
they  mean  to  go  to  housekeeping  there  immediately.  I 
suppose  she  cannot  be  kept  out  of  society." 

Nelly  was  not  paying  much  attention  to  the  subject ; 


58  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

but  she  learned  presently  that  Mrs.  Walter  Blair  had  been 
a  mill-hand,  and  that  her  mother,  who  was  a  widow,  kept 
some  boarders.  And  that  this  young  woman  should 
presume  to  marry  into  one  of  the  old  families  was  con 
sidered  a  capital  crime  on  her  part.  The  dividing  lines, 
it  seemed,  were  very  strongly  drawn  at  Edgerly ;  and, 
as  Nell}7  listened  to  the  narrow  and  selfish  strictures,  she 
was  thankful  that  her  father  was  a  clergyman,  even  if  he 
was  poor. 

Mrs.  Kinuard  retired  to  the  sitting-room,  and  took  up 
some  netting.  Maud  followed  her  aunt.  Nelly  sat  silent, 
every  pulse  still  flaming  with  resentment.  It  was  plain 
that  these  women  meant  to  do  nothing  for  her  comfort 
or  happiness.  She  had  said  she  would  be  patient,  and 
win  their  love ;  but,  oh,  how  hard  the  task  was  likely  to 
prove ! 

A  few  tears  dropped  silently  as  the  keen  sense  of  in 
justice  burned  at  her  heart.  Jane  cleared  away  the 
things,  lighted  the  hall-lamp,  and  disappeared  amid  her 
kitchen  -  duties.  Nelly  counted  the  weary  moments. 
She  knew  it  would  be  useless  to  settle  herself  to  read 
ing  :  so  she  sat  and  thought  of  the  happy  home  she  had 
left,  of  the  community  of  kindly  interests,  the  tender 
affection  that  was  not  ashamed  of  making  itself  known. 

Did  she  hear  a  wagon?     Yes:  that  was  her  husband. 

She  sprang  up,  and  ran  through  the  hall,   to  find  both 

doors  locked  on  the  inside.     He  had  entered  evidently 

from  the  side- way  ;  for  now  she  could  hear  his  step. 

'  "  Barton  !  "  she  cried  eagerly,  —  "  Barton,  let  me  in  !  " 

The  door  was  opened. 

' '  Who  locked  this  door  ? ' '  she  said  with  sudden  heat. 
Was  she  to  be  considered  an  intruder  everywhere  ? 

"  Why,  Jane  must  have  turned  the  keys.  She  has 
done  it  a  good  deal  to  keep  Bertie  out,  as  he  has  a  pro 
pensity  for  meddling  ;  and  didn't  Aunt  Adelaide  go  out?" 

"•  But  I  was  here  myself  until  after  five  ;  and,  Barton, 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  59 

no  servant  has  a  right  to  lock  me  out  of  any  room  in  my 
husband's  house !  " 

"  Upon  my  word,  you  are  brilliant  enough  for  a  tragedy 
queen  !  I  don't  imagine  she  thought  of  you.  She  might 
have  heard  you  going  out,  and  come  to  see  who  it  was, 
then  turned  the  ke}-s  by  way  of  precaution.  I  sometimes 
leave  chemicals  about.  There,  don't  get  so  excited  over  a 
trifle.  "What,  cr}Ting  too!"  for,  as  he  kissed  her,  he  felt 
a  tear  on  her  cheek. 

"  I  have  been  so  miserably  lonesome,  and  "  — but  she 
checked  herself.  This  was  no  time  for  complaint :  so  she 
added,  "  Have  you  had  any  supper?  " 

"  No  ;  but  Jane  will  give  me  a  cup  of  tea.  She  looks 
out  for  me  at  such  times." 

"  Cannot  I  go  and  make  it  for  you?  "  she  asked  with  a 
sudden  intense  longing  to  have  some  active  share  in  his 
life. 

"  Not  to-night,  dear.  There,  that  is  Jane's  signal," 
as  a  little  bell  was  rung.  "  Stay  here  until  I  return. 
When  I  want  extra  meals,  I  go  out  in  the  kitchen,  and  sup 
by  mj-self.  You  see,  it  would  make  no  end  of  trouble  to 
keep  the  table  standing,  or  reset  it." 

"Well,  let  me  go  with  you;"  and  she  glanced  up 
beseechingly. 

"  I  will  not  be  five  minutes." 

She  clung  closer  to  him.  "Why  should  I  not  go  out 
and  pour  your  tea,  or  cut  your  bread?"  she  cried. 
"  Surely  I  am  no  fine  lady ;  and  }*ou  know  it  well." 

"  Jane  doesn't  arrange  for  company ;  and  she  might 
feel  —  in  fact,  it  was  a  sort  of  agreement  entered  into 
long  ago.  Once  cannot  make  much  difference  to  3'ou." 

"  It  makes  a  good  deal  of  difference  to-night,"  she  said 
gravely.  "Am  I  not  to  be  Jane's  mistress?  " 

"  My  dear  Nelly,  I  am  afraid  Jane  would  not  brook  a 
mistress  in  the  ordinary  use  of  the  term.  Mother  and 
Aunt  Adelaide  have  both  tried  it ;  and  it  came  to  an  open 


60  NELLY  KINNAHD'S  KINGDOM. 

contest.  If  Jane  remained,  no  one  was  to  interfere  with 
her  in  the  kitchen.  She  is  a  faithful  and  capable  woman, 
and  I  should  be  sorry  to  lose  her.  I  had  trouble  enough 
before  she  came." 

"As  if  my  going  out  and  sitting  beside  JTOU  would 
make  any  trouble,"  persisted  Nelly. 

"  Jane  would  take  umbrage.  I  know  her  well.  There, 
my  dear,  let  me  go  for  this  once.  Next  time  we  will  have 
it  different." 

He  unclasped  her  hands,  and  she  sat  down  quietly,  but 
with  a  swelling  heart.  Had  they  all  conspired  against 
her  ?  Had  they  bound  her  husband  to  certain  regulations 
before  she  came?  and  was  he  weak  enough  to  purchase 
peace  in  that  manner? 

He  was  not  absent  long.  On  his  return,  he  picked  her 
up  from  the  arm-chair,  sat  down,  and  took  her  on  his 
knee. 

"  Well,"  he  began  presently,  seeing  that  she  was  silent, 
"what  have  you  been  doing  this  afternoon?  Did  you 
get  very  lonesome  ?  " 

"I  was  not  lonesome  until  this  evening,"  she  made 
answer.  - 

"  It  is  a  great  change  for  you.  I  think  we  must  ask 
one  of  the  girls  over ;  for  sometimes  I  cannot  help  sta}*ing 
out  late.  Are  you  homesick  so  soon?" 

"  No,  Barton,  I  am  not  homesick.  I  simply  want  a 
place,  and  something  to  do,  some  interest.  Jane,  it 
seems,  is  to  take  charge  of  the  house,  and  desires  no  inter 
ference.  Miss  Grove  takes  charge  of  the  children,  and 
desires  no  interference  :  so  I  almost  wonder  what  }'ou 
brought  me  here  for." 

"  To  love  me  a  little,"  he  answered  with  a  tender 
gravity.  "  I  saw  a  pretty  rose  in  my  neighbor  Endicott's 
garden  ;  and  I  was  foolish  enough  to  sigh  for  its  sweet 
ness.  Will  its  thorns  prick  me,  or  will  it  fade  with 
dissatisfaction  ?  Or  will  it  be  oatient  a  while,  until  cir 
cumstances  turn  in  its  favor?  " 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  61 

Nelly's  heart  beat  tumultuously ;  and  she  glanced  up 
with  tears  shining  in  her  eyes. 

' '  Perhaps  it  was  not  right  or  sensible  in  an  old  chap 
like  me  to  so  covet  rny  neighbor's  goods  ;  "  and  a  sweet, 
rather  humorous  smile  broke  over  the  face.  "  But  I  have 
done  it,  and,  what  is  more,  climbed  the  garden-wall,  and 
carried  off  the  rose  which  had  lived  in  sunshine,  calm,  and 
sweet ;  and  here  it  finds  the  shade.  Nelly,  I  have  had  a 
good  deal  of  it  in  my  life  ; "  and  his  voice  sank  to  a 
sudden  seriousness.  "  I  have  learned  many  things  by 
experience,  best  of  all,  patience.  There  is  a  great  deal 
that  one  can  do  by  degrees,  especially  with  women  ;  "  and 
here  he  smiled  with  a  peculiar  twinkle  in  his  eye. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  cried  with  remorseful  tenderness,  throwing 
her  arms  around  his  neck,  "  I  did  mean  to  be  so  patient 
and  tender  and  wise  ;  and  here  I  am." 

"  Not  very  thorny,  after  all,  but  quite  as  reasonable  as 
one  can  expect  at  twenty,  and  only  a  month  married." 

"  How  good  3*011  are !  And  you  are  tired  too:  I  can 
see  it  in  your  face.  Can  I  not  do  something  to  comfort 
you?" 

He  studied  her  for  several  moments  with  a  curious 
interest,  then  said  quietly,  — 

"  Was  there  any  trouble  beside  locking  the  door,  and 
being  lonesome  ?  " 

She  colored  a  little.  "I  did  feel  indignant  at  that, 
perhaps  unwisely  so,"  she  made  answer,  wondering  if  it 
was  best  to  relate  the  other  episode.  Tale-bearing  seemed 
so  despicable  to  her.  And,  though  Miss  Grove  appeared 
unreasonably  severe,  perhaps  some  check  was  necessar}r 
for  Bertie.  They  might  be  different  from  most  of  the 
children  she  had  seen  :  indeed,  she  thought  they  were. 

"  Because,"  said  the  doctor,  still  watching  her,  "  that 
is  not  to  happen  again.     The  doors  are  not  to  be  locked, 
except  when  we  are  both  out.     Only  you  must  be  a  little 
watchful  over  my  affairs." 
6 


62  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  I  promise.     Is  Bertie  never  to  be  allowed  in  here? " 

"  Isn't  the  rest  of  the  house  large  enough  for  two 
children?  I  like  to  have  one  place  sacred  to  myself." 

"  Very  well.  Oh  !  did  you  know  that  you  did  not  give 
your  list  to  Miss  Grove?  It  is  there  on  the  table." 

"  How  stupid  !  Why  did  you  not  help  me  to  remem 
ber  it?  I  wonder  if  Adelaide  wrote  out  the  invitations. 
I  must  call  to  her." 

Miss  Grove  could  not  come  down ;  but  would  Dr. 
Kinnard  come  up? 

The  invitations  had  been  written,  and  sent.  However, 
she  would  look  these  over  ;  and  she  glanced  down  the  list 
in  dismay. 

"  It  will  not  be  at  all  select,  if  you  mean  to  ask  all 
these  people,"  she  returned  haughtily. 

"  I  don't  care  about  the  selectness.  When  I  ask  my 
friends,  it  is  because  I  want  them.  But  I  would  like  to 
have  the  thing  well  over.  It  bores  me  thinking  of  it." 

He  was  not  as  patient  then  as  he  had  been  with  her. 
Nelly  heard  the  words,  and  hugged  a  little  secret  joy  close 
to  her  heart.  It  was  just  the  transition,  —  the  holiday 
laid  aside,  and  the  every-day  life  beginning  ;  and  she  could 
not  expect  it  to  be  adjusted  all  in  a  minute. 

"  God  give  me  wisdom  and  grace,"  she  prayed  softly. 
*'  Let  not  all  the  golden  years  of  my  childhood  and  girl 
hood  be  without  fruit  for  autumn." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"Men  are  made  to  be  eternally  shaken  about;  but  women  are 
flowers  that  lose  their  beautiful  color  in  the  noise  and  tumult  of 
life." — JEAN  PAUL. 

THE  carpet  and  furniture  came ;  and  Nelly  made  her 
room  a  perfect  bower.  Some  pictures  were  brought 
up  stairs  :  she  had  her  choice  of  them.  She  put  up  her 
brackets,  and  filled  vases  with  flowers,  until  it  quite 
reminded  her  of  the  rectory,  except  that  it  was  more 
beautiful.  She  went  at  the  "den"  too,  in  a  frag 
mentary,  piecemeal  way,  straightening  and  retouching 
so  by  degrees,  that  her  husband  hardly  remarked  the 
change.  Indeed,  she  was  not  ready  for  him  to  do  so  yet. 

Then  began  the  great  party  preparations.  Jane  was 
deep  in  the  mysteries  of  cooking  and  compounding,  and 
cross  accordingly.  Her  sister,  quite  a  young  woman, 
who  staid  at  home  with  their  invalid  mother,  and  took 
in  sewing,  came  over  to  help.  The  house  was  opened, 
swept,  dusted,  and  every  thing  beaten  about  as- if  it  had 
the  accumulation  of  a  century  in  it.  Mrs.  Kinnard  was 
giving  orders  here  and  there,  quite  in  her  element.  The 
refreshment-table  was  to  be  arranged  in  the  sitting-room, 
and  the  hall  kept  clear.  Nelly  smiled  a  little  over  the 
fuss  and  confusion,  half  of  it  quite  unnecessary.  Just  a 
cold  lunch  at  dinner,  and  then  on  with  the  preparations. 
And  at  dusk  it  all  looked  stiff  and  formal,  and  was  quiet 
as  the  grave  ;  for  everybody  had  gone  to  dress. 

Nelly  had  spoken  once  of  flowers.  Aunt  Adelaide 
would  make  a  bouquet  for  the  table.  63 


64  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  But  what  I  mean  is  to  fill  the  vases,  and  stand  them 
everywhere  around." 

"  The}T  fall,  and  litter  up  the  floor  ;  and  I  think  flowers 
in  rooms  very  unhealthy,"  was  Mrs.  Kinnard's  reply, 
in  no  gracious  tone. 

The  children  had  been  very  shy  since  Bertie's  unfortu 
nate  episode,  and  Nelly  had  been  busy ;  beside  that, 
a  secret  sensitiveness  which  she  did  not  want  wounded. 
It  was  best  to  wait. 

Edgerly  did  credit  to  itself  and  the  wife  of  its  favorite 
physician.  Very  few  sent  regrets.  There  was,  no  doubt, 
a  good  share  of  curiosity ;  and  it  was  amply  satisfied. 
Nelly  looked  her  very  prettiest  in  her  light  silk,  —  Ste 
phen's  gift.  She  was  sweet  and  gracious,  and  perfectly 
self-possessed.  A  young  thing,  to  be  sure ;  but  there 
would  be  years  enough  for  her  to  grow  older. 

Miss  Grove  would  fain  have  kept  the  reception  select. 
She  had  a  great  horror  of  mixed  companies  ;  and,  to  her, 
"set"  was  every  thing.  It  was  not  at  all  likely  that 
Mrs.  Kinnard  would  be  guided  by  any  one  in  her  choice 
of  friends,  as  she  was  a  very  headstrong  young  person. 
But  Miss  Grove  could  not  resist  explaining  the  position 
of  a  few  of  the  guests. 

They  ate  and  drank,  and  congratulated  their  host. 
The  women  talked  gossip  in  knots  ;  and  some  of  the  men 
went  into  the  office  for  a  good  comfortable  smoke.  The 
children  remained  up  until  ten,  and  were  feasted  no  little, 
in  spite  of  Aunt  Adelaide's  sharp  eyes :  at  least,  Bertie 
managed  to  abstract  a  good  share.  Nelly  was  a  little 
shocked  at  the  greediness.  Maud  was  stiff  and  woman 
ish,  and  showed  herself  quite  capable  of  criticising  her 
new  mother,  as  there  were  not  lacking  ill-judging  people 
whose  curiosity  had  to  be  appeased. 

Bat,  somewhere  about  midnight,  it  was  all  over,  to 
Nelly's  great  relief.  A  few  guests  who  came  from  a 
distance  were  to  remain  all  night ;  and  the  confusion 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  65 

seemed  so  odd  a  thing  in  this  house,  that  Nelly  smiled 
to  herself  as  she  was  drawn  a  little  into  the  responsibility 
of  providing  for  the  comfort  of  others,  in  the  .capacity 
of  hostess.  It  was  destined  to  do  a  good  work  in  this 
respect,  —  to  open  the  way  to  her  new  sphere. 

She  stood  in  the  hall  the  next  morning,  rather  awk 
wardly  waiting  for  all  the  family  to  assemble.  Bertie's 
festive  indulgence  had  taken  effect  in  the  shape  of  a 
severe  attack  of  indigestion  ;  and  for  once  Aunt  Adelaide 
was  a  trifle  late.  Was  it  a  golden  opportunity? 

She  touched  her  husband's  arm.  "  Barton,"  she  began 
softly,  flushing  as  she  spoke,  "do  you  not  think  it  time 
that  I  took  the  head  of  my  own  table?  I  ought  not 
always  to  be  considered  a  visitor." 

For  a  moment  he  looked  puzzled. 

"  Would  you  rather  that  Miss  Grove  kept  it?  " 

"Why,  no.  I  did  not  think  about  it.  Yes,  it  is 
right.  You  are  mistress  of  me  and  mine  :  so  come." 

Miss  Grove  swept  down  stairs  at  that  moment,  a  little 
flurried.  "I  am  sorry  to  have  kept  }TOU  waiting,"  she 
began  ;  "  but  sickness  is  sometimes  peremptory." 

"  You  are  scarcely  five  minutes  behind,  Adelaide  ;  and 
it  does  not  signif}'.  I  think,  too,  we  will  release  you 
from  a  few  of  your  duties  ;  so  that  you  may  be  able  to 
feel  more  at  liberty.  Therefore  I  will  install  Mrs.  Kin- 
nard  at  the  head  of  the  table.  She  is  quite  old  enough  a 
bride." 

Miss  Grove  was  pale  naturally ;  but  an  ashen  hue 
overspread  her  countenance.  They  had  chosen  their  time 
opportunely,  when  there  were  visitors,  and  when  she  had 
failed  a  little  in  promptness.  It  would  be  ill  bred  to 
contest  the  point ;  and,  for  the  instant,  she  could  think 
of  nothing  bitter  to  say,  at  least,  that  she  dared  say  to 
her  brother-in-law. 

Nelly  took  her  seat  with  a  quiet  grace,  and  poured  the 
coffee.  Two  of  the  gentlemen  fell  into  a  discussion  with 
6* 


66  NELLY  KENNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

Dr.  Kinnard  concerning  the  property,  and  the  improve 
ments  that  had  been  made  since  it  came  into  his  hands. 

"The  credit  being  principally  due  to  Mat,"  he  said 
in  a  gay  tone.  "  He  is  my  right-hand  man.  He  never 
bothers  me  with  details,  but  goes  straight  about  his 
work,  and  calls  me  to  look  at  it  when  it  is  done." 

"Is  the  doctor  as  liberally  indulgent  to  you?"  asked 
one  of  the  ladies,  turning  to  Nelly.  "  If  so,  I  think  I 
should  remodel  the  house." 

"What  is  there  about  the  house,  Mrs.  Glyndon?"  and 
the  doctor  glanced  up  sharply. 

"Well,  this  great  hall,  for  instance.  It  seems  so 
much  waste  room." 

"  Oh,  I  like  it !  "  cried  Nelly  hastily.  "  It  has  such 
an  hospitable  air." 

"But  doesn't  it  seem  almost  like  eating  out  of  doors? 
Now  I  should  put  in  some  sort  of  partition,  and  shut  off 
the  stairs,  and  make  a  snug  little  room." 

"Little  rooms  are  my  abomination,"  returned  the  doc 
tor.  "  And,  since  you  can  go  up  and  down  from  the 
kitchen-way,  and  from  the  office,  there  is  no  great  pub 
licity  in  these  stairs.  They  serve,  too,  to  shut  off  this 
end  from  the  hall-door.  I  shall  not  allow  you  to  stir  up 
Mrs.  Kinnard  to  rebel  against  my  hall.  It  is  the  apple 
of  my  e}"e,  the  one  thing  that  decided  me  in  buying  the 
house.  Now,  if  }*ou  could  improve  upon  the  rooms, — 
they  are  rather  gloom}',  I  think." 

"  Mrs.  Kinnard,  don't  allow  this  golden  opportunity  to 
slip.  It  is  your  time  now  ;  for  husbands  are  more  indul 
gent  in  the  first  six  months  of  matrimony  than  ever 
afterwards." 

"  What  treason!" 

"Indeed,  it  is  not,"  persisted  Mrs.  Glyndon.  "  Can't 
you  have  a  bay-window  put  in  somewhere?  I  have  a 
mania  for  altering." 

"  As  I  know  to  my  cost,"   said  Mr.  Glyndon.      "  I 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  67 

occasionally  wonder  if  it  would  not  be  cheaper  to  give  her 
a  course  of  study  on  architecture,  and  have  her  experi 
ment  on  my  neighbors.  Didn't  I  hear  of  a  woman  once 
who  built  a  house  that  was  all  closets? " 

"  But  ours  is  not,  I  am  sure.  I  want  Mrs.  Kinnard  to 
come  over  and  see  it.  And  I  have  a  lovely  conservatory. 
You  are  fond  of  flowers,  of  course? " 

"I  have  always  lived  among  flowers,"  returned  Nelly. 
"  We  used  to  have  them  in  every  room  at  home." 

"Why  don't  we  have  them  here?"  said  the  doctor 
suddenly.  "  I  like  flowers  myself.  It  always  goes  to 
my  heart  to  see  a  solitary  plant  blooming  on  some  poor 
woman's  window-sill,  or  by  the  bed  of  a  sick  child. 
Nelly,  Mat  will  be  glad  to  cut  them  for  you.  They  go 
to  waste  out  of  doors." 

"And  I  shall  be  glad  to  bring  them  in,  and  cherish 
them  a  while.  They  add  such  an  air  of  cheerfulness." 

"But  do  you  think  them  healthy?"  asked  the  elder 
Mrs.  Kinnard. 

"  I  never  heard  that  florists  died  any  sooner  than  other 
people,"  said  the  doctor  dryly. 

Mrs.  Glyndon  began  to  relate  some  of  her  experiences 
in  floriculture.  She  was  very  bright  and  entertaining 
certainly.  The  group  sipped  their  coffee,  and  chatted, 
warming  with  the  peculiar  cordiality  that  lingering  around 
a  table  invariably  inspires. 

Miss  Grove  rose  presently,  straight  and  severe. 

"  I  am  afraid  Jane  will  think  us  exceedingly  dilatory," 
she  began,  "our  household  generally  goes  on  with  such 
regularity ;  and  you  know  a  domestic,  who  has  a  great 
deal  on  her  hands,  feels  the  delay  of  an  hour  or  two  very 
sensibly.  —  Maud,  you  must  go  directly  to  your  music.  — 
Doctor,  will  you  look  at  Herbert  again,  before  you  go 
out?" 

Dr.  Kinnard  bit  his  lip  ;  but  there  was  a  general  disper 
sion.  And  then  Mr.  Glyndon  found  that  he  had  some 


68  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

business  to  do  in  town  before  he  returned,  and  Mrs.  Glyn- 
don's  trifle  of  shopping  must  be  attended  to ;  Mrs. 
Howard  was  anxious  to  take  the  next  train  ;  and  the  gen 
tlemen  had  interests  and  employments. 

"  How  do  you  manage  with  the  dragon?"  whispered 
Mrs.  Glyndon  slyly  as  she  was  tying  her  bonnet.  "  That 
•woman  would  be  the  bane  of  my  life.  Do  you  know,  we 
always  fancied  she  would  marry  the  doctor  ?  and  I  said  it 
would  be  a  shame.  I  am  half  in  love  with  him  myself; 
and  he  deserves  to  be  a  very  happy  man.  But  I  don't 
quite  see  how  you  are  to  manage  comfortably." 

Nell}7  gave  a  little  embarrassed  laugh,  not  knowing 
what  to  say  in  reply. 

"  Everybody's  experience  goes  to  prove  that  relations 
never  do  get  along  well  together.  I  think  it  a  pity  to 
have  them  here." 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  find  myself  the  cause  of  a  rup 
ture,"  Nelly  returned  a  little  coldly. 

"  Well,  you  may  try  ;  but  you'll  have  to  be  very  sharp 
if  those  two  women  do  not  out-general  you.  And  you 
are  such  a  sweet,  attractive  body,  that  I've  taken  a  great 
fancy  to  you.  Now,  you  will  come  to  Melcombe,  —  it  is 
such  a  pretty  place ;  and  the  doctor  has  ever  so  many 
patients  there.  I  want  to  show  you  my  house.  It  is  a 
perfect  little  nest,  if  I  do  say  it ;  but  then  I've  neither 
chick  nor  child  to  put  me  in  disorder." 

They  all  said  their  good-bys  ;  and  the  doctor  went  out  at 
the  same  time.  He  was  in  a  mood  of  high  good-humor. 
The  social  air  of  the  party  inspired  him. 

"  And  now  every  thing  is  to  be  cleared  up,"  began 
Mrs.  Kinnard  fretfully.  "  Parties  are  such  senseless 
things  to  me  !  You  slave  yourself  to  death  beforehand  ; 
and,  when  you  are  all  tired  out,  the  whole  house  is  to  be 
put  in  order  again.  And  Jane  is  as  cross  as  a  bear. 
She  wasn't  any  too  pleasant  before ;  but  loitering  over 
meals  always  does  vex  her." 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  69 

"  I  think  we  can  soon  restore  the  house  to  order,"  said 
Nelly  gravely.  "  I  have  been  used  to  both  work  and 
company  all  my  life,  and  am  not  easily  annoyed  or  dis 
couraged.  Would  Jane  like  any  help  in  the  kitchen? 
Did  her  sister  go  home  last  night  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  she  came  again  this  morning.  They  are  at 
the  dishes  now." 

"  It  is  not  worth  while  to  cook  any  thing  fresh  to-day. 
There  must  be  cold  ham  and  chicken,  and  there  is  enough, 
certainly.  That  will  lessen  the  work  somewhat." 

Mrs.  Kinnard  stared  hard  at  her  daughter-in-law. 

"  Jane  will  do  what  she  thinks  best,"  was  the  reply. 

An  indignant  flush  flamed  up  in  Nelly's  face.  If  she 
dared  to  go  out  there,  and  be  mistress  of  the  kitchen ! 

Her  own  room  was  finished.  She  dusted  the  office  and 
the  adjoining  room ;  then  she  opened  the  par  lor- windows, 
and  let  in  some  sunshine.  It  was  not  yet  eleven,  and 
she  might  sweep  both  of  these  rooms.  It  was  uncomforta 
ble  to  hear  everybody's  fling  about  extra  work,  when  any 
thing  out  of  the  ordinary  routine  occurred.  At  home  no 
one  grumbled.  Cheerfulness  reigned  supreme. 

She  put  on  a  loose  sack  and  dainty  sweeping-cap,  and 
went  down  to  the  parlor.  The  furniture -covers  were  in 
the  hall  closet :  so  she  took  them  out,  tied  them  on,  and 
began  her  work.  No  one  came  to  disturb  her.  While 
she  waited  for  the  dust  to  settle,  she  attacked  the  sitting- 
room.  Leaning  on  her  broom,  she  took  a  survey  of  the 
apartment.  If  they  could  have  it  altered  !  If  there  could 
be  folding-doors  between  this  and  the  parlor,  and  the 
walls  freshly  papered  with  something  different  from  brown 
roses  and  impossible  leaves  on  a  buff  ground ;  and  if 
there  could  be  a  bay-window  toward  the  south,  filled  with 
flowers  and  ferns  in  the  winter,  a  few  pretty  and  con 
venient  book-shelves,  some  easy-chairs  instead  of  these 
stiff-backed  mahogany  ones,  with  uncomfortable  mounds 
of  seats,  off  of  which  you  always  slipped,  —  how  homelike 
it  would  all  be ! 


70  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

Then  she  went  at  her  dusting,  and  soon  had  the  rooms 
in  the  neatest  of  order.  It  had  not  been  so  very  much, 
after  all.  Once  or  twice  Miss  Grove  had  gone  up  and 
down  without  a  word.  Nelly  had  an  odd,  guilty  feeling, 
as  if  this  had  been  in  some  sense  a  forbidden  pleasure,  a 
kind  of  interest  that  she  had  no  right  to  take.  So  she 
ran  up  stairs,  and  brushed  out  her  soft  hair,  making  her 
self  presentable,  and  none  too  soon ;  for  she  heard  her 
husband's  voice. 

"  How  blooming  you  look  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Parties 
seem  to  agree  with  you.  I  was  wondering  if  you  would 
like  to  go  for  a  good  long  ride  this  afternoon." 

"Why,  yes  !  I  shall  be  delighted  to,"  she  answered. 

"And  glad  to  get  out  of  the  hubbub,  I  daresay.  It 
will  be  nothing  but  clean  and  scold  for  a  week." 

"  If  guests  make  that  much  trouble,  they  would  scarcely 
thank  us  for  an  invitation." 

"  I  don't  know  how  it  comes  about ;  but  that  generally 
seems  the  result.  Have  you  looked  in  upon  Herbert  this 
morning?" 

"  I  have  not,"  said  Nell}',  coloring.  "  I  have  not  been 
asked  into  the  schoolroom  or  the  children's  apartments." 

"  Well,  come  along  with  me,  then." 

He  put  his  arm  around  her,  and  led  her  through  the 
hall.  After  a  light  tap  on  the  door,  he  opened  it.  One 
corner  of  the  apartment  was  fitted  up  with  two  small 
tables ;  but  the  rest  was  an  ordinary  sitting-room.  Ad 
joining,  the  sleeping-chamber  shared  by  Maud  and  her 
aunt,  and  a  small  one  for  Bertie,  who  was  tossing  rest 
lessly  on  his  cot,  still  with  some  fever  symptoms. 

Miss  Grove  bowed  distantly,  surprised  at  what  she 
considered  the  intrusion. 

The  dinner-bell  rang  at  that  moment.  Nelly  bent  over 
Bertie,  and  kissed  the  flushed  forehead.  He  looked  up 
with  a  sudden  gleam  of  pleasure. 

"Opapa!  mayn't  I  get  up?  I  am  so  tired  of  lying 
here  !  And  if  I  could  come  down  to  dinner !  " 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  71 

"  Dr.  Kinnard  laughed.  "  You  are  better  off  here,  my 
boy ;  and  a  little  toast  is  all  you  can  have  to-day. 
Parties  are  quite  too  much  for  you." 

"  If  you  had  listened  to  me,  doctor,"  said  Miss  Grove 
in  an  injured  tone,  "  the  child  would  have  been  spared 
this.  No  consideration  would  induce  me  to  keep  children 
up  beyond  their  usual  bedtime  ;  and  such  indulgences  in 
diet  are  always  injurious." 

"  Once  or  twice  in  a  lifetime  will  not  kill  anybody. 
Bertie  will  be  all  right  to-morrow.  — I  don't  think  you  are 
looking  especially  well,  Maud." 

There  was  such  a  contrast  between  the  blooming  woman 
and  the  pale,  dull-eyed  child,  that  it  startled  the  doctor. 

"Maud  is  not  out  in  the  sun  enough,  Adelaide,"  said 
the  doctor.  "It  is  a  shame  to  my  profession,  that  my 
own  children  should  be  such  poor  exponents  of  health." 

"  Maud  is  always  well ;  but  she  inherits  a  certain  deli 
cacy  from  her  mother's  famity.  And  I  cannot  say  that  I 
admire  high-colored  women  greatly.  There  is  a  degree 
of  coarseness  in  the  rude  health  of  farmers'  children." 

"  Humbug !  "  declared  the  doctor.  "  Be  a  good  boy, 
Bertie.  Come,  dinner  is  waiting ;  and  I  must  go  to 
Kelly's  Falls  this  afternoon."  With  that  he  whisked 
Nelly  out  of  the  room,  and  down  the  stairs,  to  find  the 
elder  Mrs.  Kinnard  in  her  place,  the  picture  of  neglected 
merit.  Nelly  was  tempted  to  smile. 

They  ate  silently,  as  usual.  What  a  difference  from 
the  cheerful  breakfast ! 

Afterward  Nelly  was  standing  in  the  hall,  with  her  hat 
on,  waiting,  when  Jane  came  in  to  remove  the  dishes. 

"  Jane,"  said  Miss  Grove,  "  can  you  find  time  to 
sweep  the  parlor  this  afternoon?  I  will  come  and  assist 

you." 

Nelly  was  astounded  for  a  moment ;  then  she  stepped 
forward,  confronting  the  two  women,  before  Jane  had 
resolved  whether  to  be  amiable  or  not. 


72  KELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  Both  rooms  are  swept  and  dusted,"  she  said  clearly. 
"  I  surely  had  some  right,  in  my  husband's  house,  to 
restore  order,  seeing  that  I  was  the  occasion  of  last  even 
ing's  entertainment.  I  knew  that  Jane  had  already  done 
a  great  deal  of  extra  work." 

"  Since  the  parlor  contains  my  sister's  furniture,  Mrs. 
Kinnard,  and  has  reminiscences  for  me  that  it  can  have 
for  no  other,  I  prefer  to  take  charge  of  it  mj'self." 

What  Nelly  might  have  said  further,  she  scarcely  knew  ; 
but  she  heard  her  husband's  voice  calling  her,  and  left 
them  to  any  discussion  that  pleased  them  best.  But  her 
heart  swelled  with  indignation.  Already  she  could  see 
that  Mrs.  Kinnarcl  and  Miss  Grove  had  resolved  that  she 
should  have  as  few  rights  as  possible  in  the  house. 
They  must  have  planned  it  before,  or  they  could  not  have 
acted  in  such  perfect  accord. 

"  Well,"  the  doctor  said,  after  they  had  gone  some 
distance  in  silence,  "  is  the  bay-window  all  settled  in 
your  mind  ?  and  do  you  see,  by  the  eye  of  faith,  geraniums 
blossoming  in  it?  " 

A  bright  color  stole  up  into  her  face,  and  the  serious 
lines  relaxed. 

' '  Would  it  be  worth  while  to  have  such  visions  ?  ' '  she 
asked  with  a  smile. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know.  They  are  generally  quite 
expensive.  Still,  if  you  did  not  take  too  man}7  of 
Mrs.  Glyndon's  ideas,  I  might  see  about  it." 

"  I  planned  it  all  myself  as  I  was  dusting  this  morning, 
Barton,"  and  she  placed  her  small  hand  over  his  driving- 
glove  ;  but  he  felt  the  pressure,  gentle  as  it  was.  "  Will 
you  be  perfectly  honest  with  me  in  one  thing  ?  Will  you 
tell  me  if  my  ideas  are  ever  too  extravagant?  " 

He  was  very  fond  of  his  wife,  foolishly  fond ;  and, 
somehow,  he  felt  in  an  excellent  mood.  There  had  been 
all  along  a  fear  in  his  mind,  lest  some  of  his  friends  might 
think  he  had  made  himself  ridiculous  by  marrying  this 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  73 

pretty  young  girl.  But  he  fancied,  last  evening,  they  (that 
is  those  for  whom  he  cared  most)  considered  him  a  for 
tunate  man.  And  so  he  was.  But  he  was  possessed  with 
a  boy's  eager  desire,  at  times,  to  take  her  off  to  the  fairy 
isles  of  love's  first  dreams,  _  where  they  two  might  be 
alone  together.  He  never  told  even  her  of  this  nonsen 
sical  idea ;  but  it  always  gave  him  a  mood  of  special 
indulgence. 

"Yes,  I  will  tell  you.  I  ought  to  be  a  rich  man  for 
your  sake." 

' '  Why  ?  I  have  never  had  riches  ; ' '  and  she  gave  him 
her  most  winsome  smile.  "  I  do  not  care  much,  I  think. 
Only  there  are  a  few  things  that  will  make  the  place  more 
homelike." 

"  The  bay-window,  for  instance.  Is  it  to  be  in  the 
parlor?" 

Then  she  began  with  her  plans,  which  he  declared 
excellent,  and  quite  within  his  means. 

"Adelaide  will  go  somewhere  jn  August,  and  take 
Maud  with  her :  she  always  does.  Then  we  will  com 
mence  repairs  and  alterations." 

Neither  spoke  of  new  furnishing  ;  but  it  was  strongly 
in  the  doctor's  mind,  and,  along  with  it,  the  compunction 
of  uprooting  old  ties  and  memories.  If  he  had  been 
happy  in  them  ;  but  every  day  he  felt  more  and  more 
how  utterly  barren  that  life  had  proved.  And  that  gave 
him  a  peculiar  tenderness,  —  the  desire  to  do  his  duty 
justly  and  honorably  when  there  was  no  love  to  inspire 
it. 

He  made  his  calls,  —  a  long  distance  apart  they  were 
this  afternoon,  —  and  then  they  reached  a  lovely  little 
nook,  sheltered  by  a  high  peak  on  one  side,  with  a  cluster 
of  twenty  or  thirty  cottages  at  its  foot.  Up  on  the  moun 
tain-top  was  a  spring  that  trickled  over  a  rocky  bed, 
broken  many  places  in  its  descent,  but  at  the  last  falling 
some  fifteen  feet.  It  caught  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun 
7 


74  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

through  an  opening  in  the  trees,  and  gave  back  the  most 
exquisite  rainbow  tints.  All  the  banks  were  lined  with 
rhododendron,  now  in  its  fullest  bloom ;  and  it  seemed 
to  Nelly  that  she  had  never  seen  any  thing  so  enchant- 
ingly  beautiful.  The  work^was  done  ;  and  they  lingered 
in  the  sunset,  watching  the  orange-red  as  it  faded  into 
rose  and  violet.  A  quiet  summer  evening  was  coming 
slowly  on,  calm,  like  all  the  utterances  of  God.  Why 
was -it  that  souls  drifted  away  from  him,  trying  to  find 
peace  for  themselves,  when  it  was  freely  offered  at  his 
hands  ? 

They  were  late  home,  of  course.  Miss  Grove  was 
nowhere  to  be  seen,  Mrs.  Kinnard  was  fretful,  Jane  sul 
len,  as  she  brought  in  some  hot  tea.  Without  a  word, 
Nelly  cleared  a  little  space  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
brought  up  her  husband's  plate  and  two  or  three  dishes. 

"Sit  here  by  me,"  she  said  in  a  quiet  but  tender 
tone,  waiting  upon  him  with  the  grace  that  had  so  won 
him  in  the  quaint  rectory. 

"  She  can  twist  him  round  her  finger,"  muttered  Jane  ; 
"but  she  shall  see  that  she  cannot  rule  everybody  else. 
I  am  glad  Miss  Adelaide  has  a  little  spirit !  " 

And  Jane  tossed  her  head,  as  if  she  might  use  hers  on 
the  very  first  occasion. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"  If  the  round  truth  lie 
Somewhere  between  us,  and  I  see  the  face, 
It  turns  to  me  in  stronger  light  than  you."  — HOLLAND. 

IT  seemed  to  Nelly  Kinnard  that  there  had  never  been 
three  such  long  weeks  as  those  three  of  her  married  life 
at  Edgerly.  Her  husband  was  going  to  drive  her  over  to 
the  station  now  for  her  first  visit  at  home.  Late  in  the 
afternoon  he  would  come  for  her  ;  and  they  would  return 
in  the  evening  train  together. 

Papa  was  at  the  other  station  to  meet  her, — papa, 
sweet  and  smiling,  and  Gerty  with  a  host  of  questions. 
Everybody  was  well,  and  longing  to  see  her.  They  had 
missed  her  so  much  !  Almost  two  months  since  she  had 
gone  away ! 

How  delightful  it  was  !  She  felt  glad  that  no  watchful 
eyes  were  there  to  see  her  first  joy.  She  could  run  about 
in  girlish  freedom.  What  made  thisi  simple  old  house  so 
much  sweeter  than  the  other,  with  its  large  rooms  and 
really  spacious  grounds,  its  abundance  of  every  thing, 
and  the  straitened  income  here?  Could  she  ever  fight 
against  the  great  odds,  and  bring  about  some  kind  of 
homelikeness  ?  She  had  not  done  any  thing  as  yet,  save 
to  smile  upon  her  husband,  and  be  petted  by  him.  Was 
that  all  of  her  duty? 

She  had  been  thinking,  of  late,  whether  it  was  better 
to  rouse  herself,  or  just  float  with  the  tide.  Dr.  Kinnard 
had  married  her  entirely  for  himself.  The  children  were 

75 


7ft  NELLY  KIKNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

well  enough  off.  Aunt  Adelaide  attended  to  their  moral 
and  physical  welfare,  and  enjoyed  it.  She  wanted  no 
interference.  Jane  took  command  of  the  kitchen,  and 
would  brook  no  mistress  or  control  there.  Grandmother 
Kinnard  considered  herself,  in  another  waj',  as  the  female 
head  of  the  house, — partly  in  virtue  of  her  age  ;  partly 
from  the  fact  that  she  was  the  doctor's  mother,  and  had 
a  longer  and  earlier  right  to  him  than  any  other  person. 

But  as  Nelly  Endicott  she  had  grown  in  a  larger 
sphere.  A  little  kissing  and  love,  a  few  pleasant  neigh 
bors  to  come  in  and  chat  on  the  small  gossip  of  the  day, 
a  ride  with  her  husband,  or  a  walk  alone,  and  the  day 
ending  with  chapters  o4ut  of  some  interesting  book — was 
that  all? 

"I  think  that  is  where  so  many  women  dwarf  their 
lives,"  said  Mrs.*  Endicott  in  answer  to  some  of  Nelly's 
queries.  "  After  a  while,  a  new  dress,  or  a  bit  of  gossip, 
seems  the  great  event  of  their  days.  It  is  so  easy,  then, 
to  sink  into  a  course  of  novel-reading  for  amusement, 
and  live  only  in  the  highty  wrought  creations  of  some 
facile  pen,  forgetting,  that,  for  the  one  exceptional  life 
written  out,  there  are  thousands  of  commonplace,  strug 
gling  ones." 

"  Yet  it  seems  so  hard  to  begin  !  I  have  really  nothing 
to  do  but  just  gratif}'  my  own  selfish  ease.  When  Fanny 
was  married,  she  kept  her  church  and  social  relations, 
and  her  sphere  was  widened.  People  came  into  it  con 
tinually.  And  Rose  found  work  enough.  There  was 
Stephen  and  Louis  interested  in  mission-schools  and 
chapels,  and  Mrs.  Whitcomb  to  help  "  — 

Nelly  made  a  long  pause,  and  flushed  a  little  as  her 
mother's  fond  eyes  studied  her.  Perhaps  part  was  due 
to  that  secret  consciousness  that  both  had  thought  of  the 
same  underlying  current  that  would  shape  Nell's  life, 
if  she  did  not  resist,  and  put  up  some  strong  barriers. 
Dr.  Kinnard  was  used  to  thinking  of  others  only  in  a  pro- 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  77 

fessional  or  theoretical  way.  He  could  discuss  the  wants, 
mistakes,  and  failures  of  the  age  ;  he  could  be  tender  and 
watchful  when  physical  life  was  in  danger :  but  of  the 
active,  comprehensive  charity  which  is  the  substratum  of 
that  most  thorough  human  good,  he  had  very  little.  He 
could  tell  3rou  what  to  do ;  but  he  could  not  take  the 
trouble  to  help.  The  labors  of  his  profession  were  suf 
ficient.  The  remainder  of  the  time,  he  might  surely 
devote  to  himself. 

Circumstances  had  hitherto  been  against  him,  as  well. 
There  had  been  no  delightful  home-interest  to  stimulate 
and  quicken  the  deeper  part  of  his  nature.  Only  petty 
matters  had  appealed  to  him  there.  He  knew  other 
professional  men  whose  wives  amused  and  entertained 
themselves  while  their  husbands  were  at  more  important 
affairs.  So  he  had  come  to  think  of  home  as  a  select 
sort  of  lodging-place ;  and  if  the  house  was  kept  clean 
and  peaceable,  the  meals  well  served,  it  was  sufficient. 
It  had  not  always  been  so.  Miss  Grove  and  Jane  had 
brought  into  his  household  more  of  order  and  regularity 
than  had  ever  been  it :  so  no  wonder  he  dreaded  to  have 
their  regime  disturbed. 

"Nelly,"  began  her  mother  presently  with  a  sympa 
thetic  smile,  ' '  perhaps  your  mission-work  is  from  within. 
All  are  not  called  to  go  into  the  highways,  or  even  the 
temples.  There  are  wayside  shrines  in  many  lowly 
valleys.  And,  as  in  the  creation,  to  every  work  there  is- 
its  appointed  day." 

' '  I  wonder  if  I  am  a  little  impatient  ?  But,  if  I  felt 
that  I  was  doing  ever  so  small  a  work,  I  should  be  more 
content.  Really,  mamma,  I  feel  afraid  of  my  tempta 
tion  to  idleness  and  listlessness.  I  realize  the  truth  of 
the  adage,  that  '  labor  is  worship.' ' 

"  And  that  home  is  the  central  pivot.  It  is  one  of 
the  misfortunes,  Nelly,  that  your  life  should  be  taken  on 
such  terms  :  so  you  must  look  to  other  duties  to  counter- 


78  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

balance  it.  The  difficulties  were  there  when  you  took 
it." 

"Yes:  I  cannot  plead  being  deceived  in  any  point. 
But  neither  does  it  seem  right  to  give  up  idly,  to  fritter 
away  my  days  in  uselessness." 

"  It  is  not  right.     Human  life  is  too  short." 

"  Then  I  must  find  some  way  out,  and  some  duties. 
O  mamma !  how'  did  you  make  your  life  so  rich  and  full 
and  outflowing?  " 

"  It  was  not  so  all  at  once,  Nelly.  And  then  I  had 
papa  to  counsel  me." 

Papa,  who  was  then  twenty-eight.  Ah !  it  was  not  the 
years  alone,  but  something  finer  and  deeper  in  the  man ; 
and  Nelly  Kinnard  had  seen  glimpses  of  it  in  her 
husband,  long  before  he  had  become  that  to  her.  How 
did  one  get  at  all.  these  deep  and  hidden  things?  —  the 
precious  stones  on  which  every  true  soul  builds  its  way  up  ; 
for  shifting  sand  never  yet  reared  a  stable  character. 
She  understood,  then,  the  long  years  of  study  that  were 
needed,  the  undoing  of  some  other  persons'  work,  just  as 
it  had  been  teaching  Gerty  to  sew.  It  would  have  been 
so  much  easier  to  do  it  the  first  time  herself ;  but  there 
was  given  us  in  this  world  a  good  deal  of  second-hand 
work  to  do  ;  with  crumpled  and  frayed  edges,  and  puckered 
seams.  And,  in  gardens,  how  many  weeds  come  up  to 
one  flower ! 

Then  papa  sauntered  in,  and  looked  at  his  darling  with 
an  odd,  wistful  expression,  as  if  he  was  not  sure  how  much 
belonged  to  him  any  more.  She  must  see  some  new  books 
in  the  study,  and  some  new  flowers  in  the  garden ;  and 
there  was  the  girls'  room  to  inspect,  with  its  pretty  new 
carpet,  and  the  picture  that  Fan  had  painted  for  the  birth 
day  of  Queen  Bess,  as  they  had  taken  to  calling  her  since 
she  had  shot  up  into  such  a  tall,  elegant-looking  girl. 

Then  there  was  dinner,  and,  after  that,  Fan  and  the 
babies.  And  Nelly  drove  down  to  the  station  in  the 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  79 

Churchill  carriage  for  her  husband,  who  sat  and  studied 
her  curiously  all  the  way  back. 

He  was  in  a  very  bright,  jolly  mood,  and  would  fain 
have  taken  some  of  the  numerous  sisters  home  with  them ; 
but  mamma  was  to  have  the  honor  of  a  first  visit. 

"If  you  like,  Nelly,  I'll  ask  Henderson  to  exchange 
with  me ;  and  then  we  can  spend  Sunday,"  said  her  fa 
ther. 

' '  Excellent ! "  returned  Dr.  Kinnard  with  a  cordial 
shake  of  the  hand. 

Then  he  placed  his  wife  in  the  corner  of  the  seat  by  the 
open  window,  and  seated  himself  beside  her. 

"  Are  you  sorry?"  he  asked. 

"  Sorry  for  what?" 

"  That  you  are  leaving  the  Delectable  Mountains  be 
hind  ; "  and  a  half-smile  crossed  his  face. 

"  But  the  Delectable  Mountains  were  not  the  last,  nor 
the  best  thing  in  the  journey." 

"  I  am  glad  you  think  so,  very  glad  ; "  and  he  gave  her 
hand  a  fond  pressure. 

And  Nelly  Kinnard  realized  more  deeply  than  ever, 
as  they  entered  the  quiet  house  together  that  evening, 
the  magnitude  of  her  work  here,  —  to  make  a  home,  a 
woman's  duty  and  province  :  it  had  never  been  a  home 
yet.  She  was  not  to  have  the  sweet  and  tender  assistance 
that  had  been  vouchsafed  to  both  Rose  and  Fan.  When 
there  was  peace  in  the  house,  Dr.  Kinnard  did  not  want 
it  disturbed.  So  long  as  squabbles  were  kept  out  of  his 
sight  and  hearing,  the  rest  of  the  family  might  indulge 
in  them  twenty  times  a  day.  The  little  time  he  was  in 
the  house,  he  insisted  upon  having  peace;  and.it  had 
been  every  one's  desire  to  stand  well  with  him.  In  fact, 
the  three  women  of  his  household  had  each  adored  him 
in  her  way, — his  mother,  because  he  was  her  only  son, 
and  had  been,  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  life,  very  man 
ageable.  Aunt  Adelaide  honored  him,  secretly,  for  his 


80  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

patience  with  her  sister ;  then  he  had  the  sort  of  half-im- 
periousness  that  sways  women  irresistibly.  Perhaps,  too, 
she  had  allowed  herself  to  care  as  much  for  him  as  a 
woman  of  her  temperament  could  care  for  a  man  before 
marriage  ;  and  that  he  should  be  foolish  enough  to  choose 
a  young  thing  of  twenty,  so  liberally  endowed  with  girlish 
prettiness,  was  another  affront.  Jane  tyrannized  over  him 
in  some  respects,  and  was  his  slave  in  others.  Every  thing 
that  could  minister  to  his  appetite  was  liberally  provided. 
Meals  at  any  time  were  no  trouble,  if  they  were  for  him  ; 
but  she  would  hardly  go  out  of  her  way  for  another  mem 
ber  of  the  household. 

Great  had  been  the  consternation  when  the  proposed 
marriage  was  known  to  be  a  certainty. 

"  New  wives  make  new  laws,"  Mrs.  Kinnard  had  said 
to  her  son.  "  I  suppose,  in  my  old  age,  'I  must  seek 
another  home.  I  did  hope,  Barton,  never  to  have  to 
separate  from  }^ou  again.  If  it  had  only  been  Adelaide, 
we  could  have  gone  right  along,  without  any  change.  But 
a  gaJ  3roung  girl?  like  Miss  Endicott,  will  want  her 
own  friends  and  pleasures  ;  and  old  people  must  be  pushed 
aside." 

"What  nonsense,  mother!  This  is  to  be  your  home 
as  long  as  you  care  to  stay  in  it,  which  I  hope  will  be 
always.  I  don't  see  why  two  or  three  women  in  a  house 
cannot  agree." 

' '  I  am  sure  I  should  like  to  stay  here  while  I  live  ;  and 
T  sometimes  feel  that  will  not  be  very  long.  Our  people 
are  healthy  while  they  do  live ;  but  none  of  them  have 
reached  old  age ; "  and  Mrs.  Kinnard  wiped  her  eyes 
pathetically. 

He  hated  to  see  a  woman  cry  :  so  he  comforted  her,  and 
assured  her  that  she  would  soon  learn  to  love  Nelly 
Endicott  like  a  daughter. 

Which  might  not  have  been  so  difficult  a  thing,  after 
all,  if  Aunt  Adelaide  had  not  been  there.  The  ready 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  81 

affection  of  Nell}7  Endicott  would  have  thrown  out  some 
irresistible  tendril ;  for,  at  heart,  she  was  not  an  unkind 
woman :  but  her  son,  certainly,  had  not  inherited  his  self- 
reliance  and  sturdy  independence  from  her.  She  had, 
too,  a  fatal  facility  of  believing  and  mistrusting  the  worst ; 
and  her  fears  had  been  easilj-  swa3red  by  Miss  Grove's 
strong  and  rigid  mind. 

"  I  consider  it  my  duty  to  stay  and  look  after  these 
motherless  children,  who  will  have  no  real  friend  now  but 
me.  I  have  seen  too  often  the  influence  a  second  wife 
gains  over  a  man.  She  can  persuade  him  into  any  line 
of  conduct  respecting  his  children.  '  Second  mothers  are 
invariabl}' jealous  and  envious  —  unless,  as  it  sometimes 
happens,  they  are  a  connection  of  the  first." 

"If  he  had  only  married  you,  Adelaide!"  groaned 
Mrs.  Kinnard. 

"  I  have  no  necessity  for  marrying  any  man,"  returned 
Miss  Grove  in  her  loftiest,  tone.  "  Miss  Endicott,  of 
course,  feels  differently.  There  are  a  host  of  girls  ;  and 
their  mother,  no  doubt,  understands  the  art  of  getting 
them  off  her  hands.  Not  that  I  blame  the  poor  woman. 
Girls  with  no  means  of  their  own  have  no  resource  but 
marriage  ;  while  a  woman  who  has  an  assured  income 
can  afford  to  be  independent.  My  sister  and  I  enjoyed 
this  exceedingly,  I  do  not  understand  how  any  woman 
can  endure  the  thought  of  marrying  a  man  for  a  mere 
support." 

"  And  I  daresay  she  is  idle  and  extravagant,"  went 
on  the  elder.  "If  Barton  could  have  seen!  And  now 
he  has  come  to  a  time  when  he  ought  to  be  saving  up 
something  for  old  age.  I  wouldn't  have  thought  he  could 
be  so  short-sighted." 

"  It  may  not  have  been  all  his  fault,*'  said  Miss  Grove 
with  stinging  graciousness.  "  I  am  thankful  that  I  have 
not  a  family  of  girls  to  settle  in  life  ;  though  I  should 
endeavor  to  bring  them  up  to  something  better  than  hus 
band-hunting." 


82  NELLY  KLNNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

Thus  discoursed  the  two  women  frequently,  until  the 
subject  was  varied  by  Nelly's  actual  presence,  and  her 
daily  sins.  That  her  room  should  have  been  refurnished, 
when  there  was  so  much  furniture  in  the  house  ;  that  she 
should  go  off,  day  after  day,  riding  with  her  husband,  and 
pay  no  attention  to  household  affairs,  except  to  litter  up 
the  rooms  with  foolish  flowers,  stamped  their  misgivings 
with  the  force  of  certainty. 

And  Nelly  admitted  to  herself  that  she  had  not  made 
much  headway.  Everywhere  she  was  frustrated.  The 
parlor  was  kept  sacredly  shut  up,  though  it  was  not  an 
attractive  place  to  her.  The  piano  was  in  Miss  Grove's 
room  ;  and,  so  far,  she  had  not  been  invited  within  these 
sacred  precincts.  The  children  were  kept  studiously  out 
of  her  reach,  and  they  did  not  appear  to  care  to  venture 
within  it.  Now  and  then  Bertie  responded  shyly  to  some 
demonstration ;  but  untoward  circumstances  were  sure  to 
nip  it  in  the  bud.  It  was  too,  earl}'  yet  for  neighborhood 
familiarities :  indeed,  the  one  or  two  people  Nelly  had 
ventured  to  admire  appeared  particularly  obnoxious  to 
Miss  Grove.  Yet  there  were  no  open  hostilities  :  so  Dr. 
Kinnard  prided  himself  on  his  wisdom  of  waiting  until 
both  parties  gradually  fell  into  a  friendly  connection. 

On  this  afternoon  Nelly  had  taken  a  book,  and  rambled 
to  the  chestnut-grove,  where  she  sat  at  the  foot  of  a  large 
tree,  thinking,  rather  than  reading,  and  raising  her  eyes 
now  and  then  to  the  soft,  floating  clouds  that  moved 
through  the  interstices  of  waving  grain.  Occasionally  a 
bird  sang  overhead,  or  a  squirrel  scampered  through  the 
dry  leaves,  pausing  to  peer  curiously  at  her.  Then  another 
sound  broke  the  peaceful  stillness. 

"  I  won't,  either!  I  ain't  going  to  mind  a  girl  like 
you!" 

"  You  will  go  directty  into  the  house,  Herbert." 

Nelly  could  not  forbear  smiling  at  the  authoritative 
tone,  that,  save  in  its  youthfulness,  was  so  like  Miss 
Grove's. 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.   '  83 

"  I  tell  you  I  won't,  either.  I  always  play  in  the 
afternoon.  Papa  said  I  should." 

There  was  some  sort  of  scuffle,  and  a  sharp  blow,  fol 
lowed  by  a  scream  on  Maud's  part.  Nelly  ran  forward. 

Herbert's  cheek  was  still  red  with  the  print  of  his 
sister's  hand.  She  had  caught  him  by  both  arms  ;  and  he 
was  struggling  to  get  away,  kicking  viciously,  which  she 
adroitly  tried  to  evade.  Her  dull  eyes  were  in  a  glow  of 
passion,  and  her  usually  pale  face  flushed  with  anger. 

"Children!" 

They  both  paused,  and  glared  at  her,  instead  of  each 
other. 

"  Herbert  must  come  immediately  into  the  house,"  said 
Maud  sharply,  recovering  herself  the  first. 

"  Why,  Maud?  I  believe  it  is  his  papa's  wish  that  he 
shall  remain  out  of  doors  until  tea-time." 

"  Aunt  Adelaide  wants  him.  He  meddled  with  her 
bracelet,  which  was  lying  on  the  table,  and  broke  it." 

Bertie  glanced  up  sullenly. 

"  I  didn't  break  it,"  he  said. 

For  a  moment  Nelly  felt  puzzled,  as  she  looked  from 
one  to  the  other. 

"  Where  was  the  bracelet,  Maud?" 

The  little  girl  raised  her  eyes  insolently,  as  if  to 
question  Nelly's  right  to  ask,  then  answered,  rather 
reluctantly,  — 

"In  a  box  on  the  table;"  but  more  briskly,  "He 
had  no  right  to  touch  it.  He  is  always  meddling.  — And 
you'll  get  soundly  punished  too." 

Bertie  began  to  cry,  and  protest  that  he  did  not  break 
it,  he  only  just  raised  it  up,  and  then  put  it  back. 

"You  dropped  it  on  the  floor.  Don't  tell  any  more 
stories,  Herbert  Kinnard  !  " 

"  Hush,  Maud  !  "  said  Nelly  with  a  dignity  that  over 
awed  her  childish  pretensions.  "  Tell  me  truly,  Herbert, 
did  you  break  it?'" 


84  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  No,  I  didn't.     I  just  looked  at  it,  and  put  it  back." 

"It's  no  such  thing!  Aunt  Adelaide  found  it  on  the 
floor,  broken ;  and  no  one  touched  it  but  you." 

"Maud,  either  return  to  the  house,  or  keep  silence 
until  you  are  spoken  to.  —  Bertie,  had  you  not  better  go 
to  Aunt  Adelaide,  and  tell  her  just  how  it  was  ?  " 

"No,  I  don't  want- to.  She  won't  believe  me:  she 
never  does."  And  Bertie  began  to  cry  with  a  perfect 
boyish  uproar.  Then,  as  if  for  greater  safety,  he  buried 
his  face  in  the  skirt  of  Nelly's  gown,  and  clung  to  it  with 
both  hands. 

"  My  dear  child,"  began  Nelly  soothingly. 

"Why  can't  you,  if  you  are  my  mother?"  he  inter 
rupted,  with  a  child's  inconsequence. 

' '  She  is  not  your  mother ! "  again  exclaimed  Maud 
sharply  ;  for  her  wounded  self-love  had  seethed  to  boiling- 
point.  ' '  Our  own  dear  mamma  is  dead  and  buried  ;  and 
she  is  only  "  — 

' '  Only  what  ?  "  and  the  clear  eyes  arraigned  the  child's 
bravado.  But  Maud  was  angry  now.  Under  the  calm 
and  formal  exterior,  there  was  a  depth  of  passion  and 
temper  that  never  found  a  vent,  save  upon  Herbert. 

"Only  a  stepmother"  she  said  defiantly.  "Because 
papa  chose  to  marry  you,  it  doesn't  make  you  any  real 
relation  to  us  ;  and  we  need  not  love  or  obey  you,  if  we 
don't  want  to." 

"Who  told  you  that,  Maud,  your  papa?"  Nelly  asked 
gravely. 

"  Aunt  Adelaide  told  her."  And  Bertie  paused  in  his 
crying. 

"  Grandmamma  said  we  could  not  be  expected  to  love 
3"ou,"  began  Maud,  taking  up  arms  for  Aunt  Adelaide ; 
' '  and  I  knew  it  myself  without  an}'  telling.  You  see  what 
Aunt  Adelaide  will  give  you !  I  shall  go  straight  and 
tell  her."  And  Maud  made  a  sudden  dash  across  the 
cleared  space. 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  85 

Nelly  felt  that  a  collision  was  inevitable.  "Herbert,'' 
she  began  again,  "will  you  not  go  in  and  tell  Aunt 
Adelaide  how  it  was,  and  that  you  are  sorry?  " 

"I  didn't  break  it!  I  didn't  throw  it  on  the  floor! 
Maud  tells  lies  to  get  me  punished." 

' '  How  does  Aunt  Adelaide  punish  you  ? ' '  she  asked 
with  some  curiosity. 

"Shuts  me  up  in  a  dark  closet;  and  I'm  so  afraid! 
And  she  snaps  my  ears,  and  won't  let  me  have  any  sup 
per.  I'll  run  away,  and  drown  myself  in  the  river  some 
day,  and  then  I'll  bet  she'll  feel  bad!"  And  Master 
Bertie  shook  his  head  with  a  defiance  that  was  ludicrous. 

Nelly  stood,  with  the  child  still  clinging  to  her,  un 
decided,  with  a  kind  of  helplessness  that  was  quite  new 
to  her,  expecting  every  moment  that  Miss  Grove  would 
make  her  appearance.  Instead,  Maud  again  came  in 
sight. 

"  Herbert,  you  are  to  come  in,  or  Aunt  Adelaide  will 
tell  papa  as  soon  as  he  comes  home,  and  you'll  get  an 
awful  whipping." 

Nelly  turned,  and  walked  with  him.  The  child  took 
a  dozen  or  so  reluctant  steps,  then,  suddenly  breaking 
away,  ran  in  the  opposite  direction  with  the  fleetness  of  a 
deer.  It  was  an  ignoble  retreat,  and  most  embarrassing 
for  her  ;  yet  she  could  not  help  smiling. 

Maud  turned  short  about  with  a  contemptuous  expres 
sion  upon  her  small  face. 

"  Maud,  come  here,"  said  Nelly. 

"  I  am  going  in  town  with  Aunt  Adelaide,"  she  replied 
over  her  shoulder,  and  hurried  on. 

"Very  well,  then.     I  will  try  to  find  Herbert." 

She  retraced  her  steps  ;  but  her  search  was  in  vain  as 
well  as  her  calls ;  and  presently  she  returned  to  the 
house.  Mrs.  Kinnard  sat  at  the  farther  end  of  the  hall 
by  the  window,  with  some  netting  in  her  hand.  Nelly 
thought  she  would  go  through  to  the  office  ;  but  she  paused 


86  NELLY  IUNNABD'S  KINGDOM. 


to  make  some  trifling  comment.  The  old  lady's  face  was 
full  of  displeasure. 

"Mrs.  Kinnard,"  she  began  in  a  severe  tone,  "I  am 
sorry  that  any  thing  unpleasant  should  have  occurred  about 
the  children.  We  have  all  tried  our  best  to  live  at  peace. 
We  resolved  there  should  be  no  quarrelling  on  our  p;irt 
when  you  came  into  the  house.  But  I  must  say  it  is  very 
injudicious  for  you  to  interfere  with  Miss  Grove.  She 
has  always  had  charge  of  the  children,  and  they  are  her 
sister's.  No  one,  of  course,  has  the  affection  for  them 
that  she  has ;  for  a  man  soon  forgets  in  new  claims. 
Herbert  is  a  very  trying  child,  and  needs  a  firm  hand ; 
and  your  unwarrantable  indulgence  makes  it  worse  for 
him  in  the  end,  as  your  good  sense  must  tell  you." 

Nelly's  indignation  threatened  to  master  her  for  the 
moment.  At  first  she  could  hardly  steady  her  voice  ;  but, 
when  she  felt  she  could  trust  it,  she  replied  courteously,  — 

"I  cannot  forget  that  the  children  are  also  my  hus 
band's.  In  marrying  him,  I  certainly  did  not  lessen  their 
claim  to  his  attention.  I  have  a  right  to  exercise  a 
mother's  supervision  over  them ;  and  I  have  not  inter 
fered,  save  in  a  childish  quarrel  which  was  not  creditable 
to  Maud  or  her  instructress.  The  rest  of  the  matter  we 
will  leave  for  Dr.  Kinnard's  decision.  Even  Miss  Grove 
must  allow  that  his  right  is  first." 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know  what  the  children  would  have 
done  without  their  aunt." 

Nelly  made  no  reply,  but  passed  from  the  room.  Once 
in  the  office,  she  threw  herself  on  the  sofa,  and  gave  vent 
to  a  flood  of  hysterical  tears,  that  carried  off  the  nervous 
ness,  and  left  her  calmer.  Then  she  began  to  feel  dis 
tressed  about  Herbert,  and  again  sallied  out,  and  sought 
Mat. 

"  The  youngster'll  come  to  light,  never  you  fear,"  was 
his  encouraging  comment.  "But  I'll  keep  my  eye  out 
a  bit." 


\ 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  87 

If  Dr.  Kinnard  would  but  return  !  Nelly  waited  anx 
iously,  hoping  to  be  able  to  explain  her  share  in  the  mat 
ter  before  the  family  assembled  for  supper.  But  Maud 
and  her  aunt  returned  ;  and  presently  the  bell  rang.  One 
glance  assured  her  that  there  was  no  Bertie  to  be  seen. 
She  ran  out,  and  intercepted  Mat  in  the  walk,  questioning 
him  eagerly. 

"  Oh,  he  is  right  enough  somewhere !  He  will  want 
something  to  eat,  you  may  count  on  that." 

"  Then  you  haven't  seen  him?"  and  now  her  face  was 
pale  with  apprehension. 

"Well,  I  didn't;  but  I  know  he  will  come  to  light. 
Every  thing  does ;  and  children  are  no  exception." 

"Will  you  go  out  and  call  in  the  woods  again,  Mat? 
He  might  be  lost,  or  have  fallen  and  injured  himself. 
The  doctor  will  be  so  worried  !  " 

"He  couldn't  get  lost;  and  his- father  has  forbidden 
his  going  off  the  grounds.  He's  afraid  of  his  father  too, 
is  that  little  chap.  But  I'll  go." 


CHAPTER  VIH. 

"  But  he  who  says  light  does  not  necessarily  say  joy."  — 
VICTOE  HUGO. 

THE  women  around  the  table  looked  exasperatingly 
patient  as  Nelly  entered,  much  disturbed  in  mind  and 
manner. 

"  May  I  venture  to  inquire  about  Herbert,  Mrs.  Kin- 
nard?"  began  Miss  Grove,  as  Nelly  was  nervously  pour 
ing  tea.  "  Since  you  have  taken  him  under  j^our  jurisdic 
tion,  I  suppose  he  is  safe,  at  least ;  "  and  there  was  a 
little  sneer  in  the  words. 

"  I  have  not  seen  Herbert  since  —  since  he  ran  away 
in  the  grove,"  returned  Nelly  tremulously. 

' '  Of  course  you  are  quite  prepared  to  answer  to  his 
father  for  whatever  befalls  him  ?  " 

"  I  will  answer  to  his  father  as  far  as  I  am  concerned," 
she  made  answer  quietly. 

It  did  not  seem  as  if  any  thing  evil  could  happen  to 
the  child.  It  was  still  broad  daylight ;  and  he  was  used 
to  roaming  about.  If  Miss  Grove  believed  him  in  danger, 
could  she  sit  there  so  calmly?  Maud  wore  the  same  look 
of  insolent  defiance  that  had  characterized  her  in  the 
afternoon.  Nelly  experienced  a  strange  sinking  about 
the  heart,  feeling  pitted,  as  it  were,  against  them  in  a 
cruel  struggle. 

"  But  it  is  unusual  for  the  child  to  stay  so,"  said  grand 
mother,  with  much  alarm  in  her  countenance. 

"  I  have  always  insisted  upon  promptness  ;  but  then 
88 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  89 

/  like  regularity  in  all  matters,  and  have  accustomed 
m}Tself  to  such  habits.  For  years  we  have  gone  on  in 
complete  order  ;  but  I  am  no  longer  mistress,  and  there 
fore  not  responsible.  Still,  since  I  have  consented  to 
remain  solely  on  account  of  these  motherless  children, 
my  only  sister's  children,  I  do  desire  to  do  my  duty  by 
them  without  any  interference.  It  was  a  very  simple 
thing  that  occurred  this  afternoon.  The  child  is  meddle 
some  and  destructive  to  the  last  degree,  and  I  sent  for 
him,  as  I  had  a  perfect  right  to  do  ;  for  I  found  he  had 
broken  my  bracelet,  and  it  was  my  place  to  punish  him. 
You  must  sec,  Mrs.  Kinnard,  how  utterly  uncalled  for 
3*our  imprudent  indulgence  was  in  shielding  him,  and  in 
thus  enabling  him  to  defy  me.  I  think  his  father  can 
hardly  fail  to  say  so." 

Nelh-  heard  her  through  with  a  quiet  dignity. 

"  I  did  not  shield  him  in  any  respect,  Miss  Grove.  I 
should  not  have  taken  any  notice  of  the  matter ;  but  he 
and  Maud  were  wrangling  in  a  very  improper  manner. 
I  am  not  fully  acquainted  with  your  method  of  bringing 
up  children.  But  in  our  family,  where  there  was  a  much 
greater  difference  in  regard  to  ages,  one  child  was  never 
allowed  to  strike  another ;  and  Maud  had  given  him  a 
severe  blow." 

"  He  kicked  me,"  said  Maud  in  eager  justification. 

"  I  think  Maud  will  also  bear  me  witness,  if  she  cares 
to  tell  the  truth,  that  I  insisted  upon  his  obeying  you." 

A  dull  blush  suffused  Maud's  face. 

"You  had  him  in  your  lap,  with  your  dress  around 
him,"  the  young  lady  returned  with  a  most  offensive 
self-complacency. 

Nelty  could  have  shaken  her ;  for  it  flashed  into  her 
mind  that  Maud  might  not  have  repeated  the  transaction 
correct!}'. 

•'  I  am  not  much  used  to  children's  quarrels  ;  and  we 
were  carefully  trained  not  to  misrepresent  if  it  was  ever 
8* 


90  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

necessary  to  bear  evidence  against  one  another.  —  Will 
you  be  kind  enough  to  tell  me,  Maud,  what  you  said  to 
j-our  aunt?  I  shall  take  the  liberty  of  repeating  3'our 
whole  conversation  to  your  father ;  for  I  must  say  I 
considered  it  very  impertinent  in  a  little  girl." 

"  Indeed !  Maud  gives  me  no  trouble  that  way.  — 
Answer  Mrs.  Kinnard,  Maud.  You  told  me"  — 

"  That  —  that "  —  and  the  child's  voice  faltered,  while 
her  eyes  sought  her  aunt's  with  a  sort  of  frightened 
entreaty. 

Miss  Grove  generally  scorned  any  thing  like  falsehood  ; 
but  now  her  anger  at  Dr.  Kinnard' s  wife  was  greater 
than  her  vaunted  love  of  truth.  Maud  had  most  impru 
dently  colored  the  whole  transaction,  and  had  said  of 
her  stepmother,  "  She  won't  let  him  come  in." 

"  That  Mrs.  Kinnard  was  his  mother,  or  something  of 
that  sort,  and  he  clung  to  her  for  protection.  I  suppose  it 
was  as  much  your  manner  that  influenced  Maud  as  any 
thing  you  said,"  returned  Miss  Grove  with  a  covert  air 
of  triumph. 

"  Did  I  tell  him  to  go  to  your  aunt,  Maud,  or  did  I 
not?  Answer  simply  yes,  or  no." 

"  I  don't  remember  ;  "  and  Maud  began  to  cry. 

"  She  gave  me  the  impression  that  you  were  shielding 
Herbert.  But  she  was  greatly  excited,  I  must  confess  ; 
and  ordinarily  Herbert  obeys  me." 

There  was  the  sound  of  a  breezy  voice  in  the  office ; 
and  Nelly's  heart  leaped  with  joy.  He  entered  with  a 
gay  salutation,  passed  around  and  kissed  his  wife,  noting 
with  the  quick  eye  of  affection  that  something  had  dis 
composed  her. 

"Where  is  Bertie?"  he  asked  as  he  took  his  cup  of 
tea.  "  Dismissed  on  account  of  some  meritorious  deed?  " 

"Mrs.  Kinnard  was  the  last  person  who  saw  him,  I 
believe,"  returned  Miss  Grove. 

"  I  will  tell  you  after  supper,"  Nelly  said  quietly. 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  91 

Dr.  Kinnard  glanced  from  one  to  the  other.  There 
had  evidently  been  a  storm  ;  but  he  was  most  unromanti- 
cally  hungry,  and  thankful  for  Nell}*'s  good  sense.  Then 
he  had  a  message  to  deliver  to  his  mother  from  a  distant 
friend  ;  and  the  conversation  took  a  general  turn. 

Miss  Grove  rose  when  he  was  through.  "  Will  you 
be  kind  enough  to  remain,"  asked  Nelh',  "while  I 
make  my  explanations  ; ' '  and  the  lady  stood  in  a  haughty 
dignity,  with  one  hand  on  the  back  of  her  chair,  her  face 
curved  with  a  scornful  half-smile. 

Nelly  went  briefly  over  the  incidents  of  the  afternoon. 
She  did  not  repeat  all  Maud's  insolence,  for  she  did  not 
desire  to  bring  either  of  the  elder  ladies  into  personal 
conflict  with  herself ;  and  she  was  by  far  too  kind-hearted 
to  thus  mortify  them  in  the  presence  of  the  son  and 
brother. 

Dr.  Kinnard  turned  abruptly.  "  Where  was  the  brace 
let,  Adelaide  ?  "  he  asked. 

"On  my  dressing-table,  when  I  left  it:  on  the  floor, 
when  I  found  it,  and  broken.  I  had  been  out  of  the 
room  for  a  few  moments." 

' '  How  I  wish  you  would  not  keep  gimcracks  around 
where  that  boy  can  get  at  them,  or,  better  still,  not  have 
him  everlastingly  in  your  room  !  I  have  told  you  a  hun 
dred  times  to  send  him  out  just  as  soon  as  his  lessons 
were  through.  Is  it  badly  broken?  —  Maud,  go  and  fetch 
it-  And  he  has  not  come  in  yet?  Has  any  one  sent- Mat 
to  see?" 

"I  have,"  said  Nelly ;  for  she  could  see  that  her  hus 
band  was  much  annoyed. 

"  He  hasn't  spunk  enough  to  run  away,  so  never  fear," 
glancing  at  Nelly's  face  of  alarm.  "  And,  if  he  did,  he 
would  run  back  again.  I  shall  have  to  take  him  in  hand, 
Adelaide.  I  have  always  said  women  could  not  manage 
boys." 

"I  am  sure  I  have  managed  him  until" — and  an 
angry  light  shot  out  of  Miss  Grove's  eyes. 


92  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

' '  But  now  lie  is  growing  out  of  your  reach  ;  that  is  the 
truth.  He  must  either  be  a  molly-coddle  (which  no  son 
of  mine  ever  shall,  if  I  can  prevent) ,  or  there  must  be  a 
different  state  of  affairs.  Ask  Jane  if  Mat  has  come  yet. 
Oh  !  "  —  for  at  that  moment  Maud  entered  with  her.  aunt's 
bracelet,  and  handed  it  to  her  father,  who  examined  it 
minutely. 

"  It  has  been  trodden  on,"  he  said.  "I'll  settle  this 
matter  myself,  Adelaide  ;  and,  if  the  boy  has  told  a  false 
hood,  he  shall  be  severely  punished.  I  have  a  horror  of 
children's  lying. — And,  Maud,  you  are  not  called  upon 
to  administer  any  correction  whatever  to  Bertie.  Did 
you  strike  first,  or  did  he  kick?  " 

"  He  —  he  struck  me." 

"  Keep  your  hands  off  him  in  the  future,"  said  the 
doctor  in  a  voice  which  strongly  suggested  obedience. 

Nelly  glanced  at  the  pale,  stolid  face.  Could  she 
understand  that  her  misrepresentation  was  absolute 
falsehood?  or  was  she  wrapped  about  with  that  terrible 
self-complacency  which  deadened  all  finer  distinctions? 
Not  a  lovable  little  girl ;  and  yet  Nelly  felt  as  if  she 
wanted  the  doctor  to  take  her  on  his  knee,  and  talk  to 
her  until  the  cold  and  rigid  little  heart  should  melt.  She 
could  not  quite  approve  of  this  hardness  and  indifference 
on  his  part. 

"  I  have  two  or  three  prescriptions  to  compound  ;  so  I 
must  go  to  the  office.  Send  Bertie  right  to  me."  Then, 
catching  a  glimpse  of  Nelly's  sad  face,  he  put  his  arm 
around  her,  and  drew  her  in  the  office  with  him.  But 
his  departure  was  a  signal  for  the  loosening  of  tongues. 
Maud  listened  to  the  injudicious  strictures  of  aunt  and 
grandmother,  which  were  not  calculated  to  increase  her 
respect  for  her  stepmother,  and  felt  how  absolute^  cruel 
it  was  of  her  father  to  thus  transfer  his  love  and  interest 
to  that  young  thing,  as  her  aunt  termed  her,  whose  pretty 
face  had  caught  his  attention,  while  her  own  dear 
mamma  was  lying  in  the  grave. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  93 

Dr.  Kinnard  compounded  his  two  prescriptions  silently, 
while  Nelly  sat  and  watched  him.  There  were  twenty 
things  she  wanted  to  say ;  but  she  knew  he  could  not  bear 
to  be  interrupted  while  he  was  engaged  in  any  such  matter. 
Perhaps  the  whole  secret  of  his  tolerating  her  in  the  office 
was,  that  she  did  not  bother  him  with  subjects  foreign  to 
the  one  he  had  in  hand.  Then  he  turned  suddenly. 

"  Nelly,  did  you  tell  me  all  that  happened  this  after 
noon, —  all  that  both  children  did  and  said?" 

The  question  took  her  so  by  surprise,  that  she  colored 
violently  the  first  instant,  and  was  silent. 

"There  was  something  else?"  and  he  fixed  his  keen 
eyes  upon  her. 

"  I  told  you  all  that  was  necessary,"  she  answered. 

"  But  I  want  to  know  every  word  ; "  and,  coming  around 
the  table,  he  sat  down,  taking  both  hands  in  his. 

"I  am  not  used  to  telling  tales,  or  making  complaints," 
she  said  almost  haughtily. 

' '  First  case  of  insubordination ;  "  and  there  was  a 
shrewd  half-smile  in  his  ej'e,  which  hardly  covered  the 
persistent  determination.  "  I  am  very  sorry  the  incident 
should  have  occurred,  Nelly.  I  hoped  there  would  be  no 
conflict  until  matters  had  settled  into  a  somewhat  com 
fortable  groove  for  us  all ;  but  I  understood  from  your 
face  and  voice  that  you  were  keeping  something  back. 
I  trusted  your  judgment  then :  can  you  not  trust  mine 
now?" 

Poor  Nelly !  The  one  thing  she  had  strongly  resolved 
not  to  do,  was,  to  estrange  the  father  from  the  chil 
dren  ;  to  prejudice  him  in  any  way  while  his  love  for 
her  was  so  strong  and  new.  Maud's  disrespect  looked 
worse  to  her  now  than  it  had  out  in  the  grove  ;  and,  if  she 
told  it  all,  it  must  make  Dr.  Kinnard  angry  in  her  behalf. 

"  Oh,"  she  cried  with  girlish  eagerness,  "  let  it  all  go  ! 
Let  us  think  of  Bertie,  and  what  must  be  done.  Little  as 
I  know  about  boys,  this  does  not  seem  the  right  influence 
for  him." 


94  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"One  thing  at  a  time.  You  have  not -answered  my 
question.  I  want  that  first  of  all." 

"I  think  you  are  a  little  cruel,"  Nelly  said  with  spirit. 
"  I  do  not  desire  to  make  any  complaint.  You  must  see 
how  very  embarrassing  the  position  is  for  me." 

"Let  us  get  through  with  it,  then.  Come,  be  frank 
and  honest  with  me.  Don't  you  suppose  that  I  realize 
the  awkward  position,  that  you  are  stepmother  to  these 
children  ?  " 

The  tears  came  into  Nelly's  eyes  ;  and  she  hid  her  face 
suddenly  upon  her  huband's  breast.  "  I  will  tell  you," 
she  said,  "  if  you  will  promise  not  to  be  severe  with  Maud. 
They  are  your  children :  they  have  even  a  greater  right  to 
your  love  than  I." 

' '  Love !  What  foolish  distinctions  you  women  do 
make  !  Nelly,  I  hope  I  have  sense  enough  to  be  just  in 
any  event.  You  are  over-sensitive." 

Nelly  delayed  no  longer,  but  repeated  the  scene,  leaving 
out,  it  must  be  confessed,  a  little  of  the  worst.  Then  she 
glanced  timidly  up  in  her  husband's  face. 

"  Oh  !  I  am  not  going  to  scold  you,"  he  said  with  a  faint 
smile  ;  "  but  you  know,  Nelly,  that  I  have  a  great  dislike 
of  evasions,  or,  rather,  understanding  only  part  of  a  mat 
ter  in  which  I  am  to  judge.  Maud  is  an  insolent  little 
vixen  ! "  and,  springing  up,  the  doctor  began  to  pace  the 
floor. 

"  But  you  will  forgive  her  this  time,  for  my  sake?  Oh, 
please  do,  Barton !  It  would  make  it  worse  for  me.  She 
is  Aunt  Adelaide's  favorite ;  and,  if  I  brought  her  into 
disgrace  with  you  "  — 

"There,  there,  Nelly !  Don't  go  to  crying  about  it.  I 
will  not  say  a  word,  if  it  pleases  you  better :  in  fact,  I  do 
suppose  I  should  get  myself  into  a  hornet's  nest.  But 
Maud  must  not  be  allowed  in  any  such  conduct.  You  shall 
be  respected  by  the  children  :  of  that  I  am  resolved." 

Just  then  there  was  a  tap  at  the  door ;  and  the  doctor 
opened  it. 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  95 

"  I  don't  think  Master  Bertie  is  anywhere  on  the  place," 
said  Mat.  "  Would  he  have  gone  away,  think?" 

' '  Have  you  looked  in  the  barn  ?  You  found  him  there 
once  asleep,  you  know.  Or,  stay  "  —  And  he  called  up 
the  stairway  to  Miss  Grove,  — 

"  Look  in  Bertie's  room,  will  you?  " 

There  was  an  entrance  to  this  room  from  the  kitchen 
part.  While  it  was  yet  early,  Bertie  had  stolen  home,  and 
hurried  into  bed.  He  was  frightened  and  hungry  ;  and, 
hearing  his  aunt's  voice  on  her  return,  he  had  covered 
himself  smoothly  over.  But,  though  she  might  have  looked 
into  his  room  under  any  other  circumstances,  she  certainly 
had  not  done  so  now,  until  requested  b}T  his  father.  He 
was  soundly  asleep.  Had  his  punishment  been  in  her 
hands,  she  would  have  roused  him  in  a  moment ;  but  now 
she  only  glanced  at  him  with  a  bitter,  self-satisfied  smile, 
and  went  quietly  down  stairs. 

"  He  is  there,  Barton.  I  suppose  he  was  too  guilty  and 
ashamed  to  face  any  one,  and  had  a  dread  of  the  punish 
ment  that  he  knew  was  sure  to  come.  He  is  a  very  cow 
ardly  child.  Shall  I  wake  him  up  ?  " 

The  doctor  thought  a  moment.  "  No  :  let  him  sleep.  I 
will  attend  to  his  case  in  the  morning.  .  Tell  Maud  to  come 
down  to  me." 

Miss  Grove  bit  her  lip,  and  hesitated,  then  said,  — 

"Barton,  she  is  very  much  excited,  and  in  a  highly 
nervous  state.  I  think  you  had  better  defer  any  thing  you 
have  to  say  to  her  until  breakfast-time.  I  was  just  about 
to  send  her  to  bed." 

There  was  the  least  possible  entreaty  in  Miss  Grove's 
voice  ;  but  her  brother-in-law  did  not  heed  it. 

"  I  will  not  keep  her  but  a  moment  or  two.  It  is  best 
for  me  to  see  her  to-night." 

Maud  entered  the  office,  pale  and  trembling.  Her  aunt 
had  half  a  mind  to  brave  all,  and  accompany  her.  But 
being  requested  to  retire  would  have  proved  too  great  an 


96  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

humiliation ;  and  she  knew  Dr.  Kinnard  to  be  quite 
capable  of  such  a  course. 

There  was  a  look  of  sullen  fear  in  the  child's  eyes  ;  and 
her  features  seemed  sharper  and  thinner  than  ever.  Nelly 
felt  really  sorry  for  her.  ^ 

"Maud,"  began  her  father,  eying  her  with  a  half-con 
tempt,  "  if  3*ou  were  at  all  disrespectful  to  your  mother 
this  afternoon,  I  want  you  to  beg  her  pardon.  And,  in 
future,  I  want  you  and  Bertie  to  understand  that  you  are 
to  obey  her  as  promptly  in  any  matter  as  }rou  do  me." 

That  was  all,  then.  She  hated  to  beg  Mrs.  Kinnard's 
pardon  ;  but  that  was  better  than  her  having  told  all,  and 
being  in  no  end  of  a  difficulty.  So  she  collected  her  self- 
possession,  and  the  certain  obtuseness  of  feeling  that  so 
largely  characterized  her,  and  did  as  she  was  bid,  in  a 
formal  way  that  was  extremely  annoying  to  Nelly. 

"  My  little  girl,"  she  returned,  compelling  herself  to 
speak  kindly,  "I  hope  you  will  soon  begin  to  feel  that  I 
am  your  friend,  at  least.  I  know  your  own  mamma  is 
dead,  and  that  is  a  great  loss  to  any  child  ;  but  I  shall  try 
to  fill  her  place  as  well  as  you  will  allow  me.  I  am  ready 
to  love  you,  and  sympathize  in  all  your  pleasures  and 
pursuits  when  you  feel  well  enough  acquainted  to  give  me 
a  share.  It  is  our  duty  to  try  to  make  papa  happy  by 
our  loving  one  another,  as  well  as  loving  him.  Will  you 
try?" 

Maud  colored,  and  then  became  pale  again,  averted  her 
face,  and  murmured  a  few  indistinct  words,  turning  toward 
the  door.  Then  she  opened  it,  said  good-night  briefly, 
and  vanished. 

The  doctor  went  on  pacrng  the  room,  with  his  hands 
folded  behind  him.  Suddenly  he  broke  out  with,  — 

"It  is  not  what  you  have  been  used  to,  Nelly.  The 
elements  of  affection  and  kindliness  that  formed  so  large 
a  part  in  your  household  life  are  altogether  wanting  here. 
With  all  a  man's  solemn  truth,  I  say  I  am  sorry  for  it. 
But  what  to  do  "  — 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  97 

"  Let  me  help  you  ;  "  and  she  slipped  her  hand  within 
his  arm,  joining  his  walk. 

"  That  was  all  a  farce  with  Maud  ;  I  saw  it  as  well  as 
you,  but  I  was  determined  that  she  should  pay  you  some 
outward  respect.  Nelly,  the  world  has  a  great  prejudice 
against  stepmothers,  and  perhaps  daughters-in-law.  I 
think  the  matter  is  about  evenly  balanced.  There  are 
good  and  bad  on  both  sides,  just  as  there  are  good  and  bad 
husbands  and  fathers.  Why,  think  of  a  man  beating  his 
poor  little  child,  and  sending  him  out  on  a  cold  winter  day 
to  beg  for  money  to  bu}7  rum  with !  Think  how  cruel 
Mat's  wife  was  to  their  little  child !  And  yet  I  am  sorry 
that  3'ou  must  suffer  in  the  world's  estimation  for  the  in 
justice  of  other  people." 

"But  isn't  that  just  one  of  the  things  the  Saviour  com 
mends  ?  What  virtue  is  there  in  suffering  patiently  the 
result  of  our  own  faults?  " 

"  I  don't  pretend  to  understand  these  things,"  and  he 
looked  a  little  puzzled.  "  And  I  hate  to  have  you.  pre 
judged,  suspected  of  any  thing  so  foreign  to  your  nature. 
But  I  had  my  way  in  bringing  you  here  :  so  I  must  endure 
the  other  with  what  grace  I  can  ;  "  and  he  smiled  grimly. 
' '  Aunt  Adelaide  would  take  nothing  short  of  a  positive 
dismissal,  I  fancy  ;  for  she  exaggerates  her  point  of  duty 
most  heroically.  Yet  I  think  sometimes,  if  she  managed 
the  children  differently,  they  might  not  be  so  —  so  unlike 
childhood  in  its  natural  state." 

"Can't  you  do  something  for  them?  can't  we  both?" 
cried  Nelly  earnestly.  "  It  seems  to  me  that  they  are 
not  being  brought  up  judiciously." 

"  I  don't  know  how  much  I  love  children,  whether  I 
have  any  of  that  overwhelming  passion  that  women  in 
dulge  in ;  but  I  have  a  great  tenderness  in  some  ways.  I 
can't  bear  to  see  a  child  abused '  or  ill  treated  ;  and  — 
you'll  laugh  at  me,  Nelly  ;  but  I  positively  cannot  endure 
to  see  a  child  beaten,  so  much  of  it  comes  under  my 


98  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

notice  !  Mothers  are  tried  and  angry,  and  worn  out  with 
their  labors :  so,  when  a  child  is  troublesome  or  dis 
obedient,  a  whipping  settles  it  the  quickest  of  an}7  thing  ; 
therefore  it  is  resorted  to.  Half  the  time,  it  is  merely 
indulgence  in  one's  own  temper.  I  found  out,  a  year  ago, 
that  Adelaide  was  in  the  habit  of  giving  Bertie  liberal 
allowances  with  a  strap  :  so  I  took  that  away,  and  told 
her,  when  Bertie  did  any  thing  grave  enough  for  such 
punishment,  she  must  send  him  to  me." 

"  And  so  you  were  tried  frequently  ;  was  that  it?  " 

On  the  contrary.  She  has  appealed  to  me  a  few  times  ; 
and  Bertie  has  managed  to  commit  some  depredations  in 
my  office.  I  will  candidly  own  that  I  can  only  strike  a 
child  in  the  heat  of  anger.  There  seems  something  so 
cowardly,  so  obnoxious,  in  the  unequal  warfare  of  a  strong 
man  pitted  against  a  little  child  that  he  could  crush  and 
kill,  and  does  sometimes  maim.  It  may  be  necessary  in 
schools,  where  a  crowd  of  boys  are  herded  together  ;  but  it 
seems  to  me  there  might  be  other  punishments  devised  in 
a  household,  that  would  not  injure  a  child  in  any  way. 
But  I  cannot  see  that  Bertie  has  improved  much  under 
the  new  regime" 

"Yet  I  think  he  is  a  good  deal  afraid  of  Aunt  Ade 
laide." 

"That  is  true.  There  is  something  cowardly  about 
the  child,  that  annoys  me.  I  like  fearless,  outspoken 
children,  who  are  honestly  sorry  for  a  fault,  and  who, 
perhaps,  forget  the  next  day,  and  do  the  same  thing. 
Adelaide  is  an  excellent  teacher ;  but  1  do  believe  the 
boy  would  be  better  off  in  a  school  with  other  children." 

"  He  certainly  would,"  said  Nell}7  decisively. 

"I  promised  Adelaide  that  I  would  make  no  change 
for  the  coming  year  ;  but  I  think  I  must.  I  want  him  to 
be  manly,  truthful,  honest  in  principle ;  not  that  mere 
outward  honesty  that  refrains  from  stealing  your  neigh 
bor's  coat  or  his  money.  And  I  wish  —  but  here  I  arn 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  99 

shifting  these  burthens  on  your  shoulders  ;  a  thing  I  had 
resolved  not  to  do." 

"And  why  not?"  Nelly  stood  up  with  a  sweet 
bravery  shining  in  her  eyes.  "  Am  I  not  to  help  in  this 
work  as  well?  Is  it  merely  to  take  your  love  and  service, 
and  give  nothing  in  return?  I  did  not  marry  you  for 
that." 

He  stooped,  and  kissed  her.  "  I  wish  you  had  been 
their  mother,"  he  said  huskily  ;  "  and  yet  3^ou  are  such  a 
child  yourself.  No,  I  must  not  make  the  burthen  too 
heavy.  I  suspect  I  am  something  of  a  coward  and  a 
shirk  myself,"  he  appended  grimly.  "  I  ought  to  take 
the  responsibility  of  my  bo}T." 

"  I  think  you  ought,"  returned  Nelly  gravely. 

' '  But  I  had  promised  myself  a  sort  of  holiday  house 
hold  life,"  he  continued  with  a  shrug  and  a  half-smile. 

"Barton,  life  isn't  all  meant  for  a  holiday.  We  have 
had  a  verj*  bright  golden  one  ;  and  now  I  want  you  to  let 
me  help  }TOU  with  the  work.  Bertie  needs  a  father's  care 
and  interest  and  love.  Let  him  come  a  little  more  into 
3'our  life.  It  will  b,e  a  trouble,  I  know ;  but  it  brings 
with  it  a  sweet  reward.  I  wouldn't  give  up  my  remem 
brance  of  papa's  sympathy  and  tenderness  for  all  the 
wealth  of  the  world." 

"  Mr.  Endicott  is  a  better  man  than  I,"  said  Dr.  Kin- 
nard  simply.  Then,  with  a  smile,  "I  hope  you  have 
brought  a  little  of  his  goodness  with  you  to  leaven  us  ;  for 
we  all  need  it." 

He  sat  down,  and  took  her  on  his  knee,  holding  the  fair 
hand  in  his,  and  resting  his  chin  upon  it. 

"  What  will  you  do  with  Bertie?  "  she  asked  presently. 

"  It  puzzles  me.  The  bracelet  has  certainly  been 
stepped  upon.  Just  falling  from  a  table  could  not  injure 
it  in  that  manner.  It  seems  as  if  Bertie  ought  to  have 
told  3'ou  the  truth.  And,  if  he  should  persist  in  his  state 
ment,  Aunt  Adelaide  will  not  believe  it  I  am  afraid.  So 
I  am  between  two  fires." 


100  NELLY  KESTNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  You  will  not  punish  him,  then,  unless  you  are  con 
vinced  ?  " 

"Most  assuredly  not." 

"  I  think  we  shall  be  able  to  tell.  It  seems  to  me  that 
Miss  Grove's  method  with  him  tends  to  make  him  con 
ceal  trifles,  rather  than  admit  them.  She  is  strict  and 
stern,  putting  him  down  continually,  and  finding  fault. 
The  child  really  has  no  freedom  of  ideas  in  any  direc 
tion." 

"  Except  mischief." 

"  And  how  much  of  this  is  due  to  unemployed  re 
sources  ?  "  Nelly  asked  with  a  smile.  "  I  do  think,  Barton, 
a  little  judicious  praise  is  ever  so  much  better  than  repres 
sion  and  fault-finding.  And  I  shall  be  so  glad  to  have 
you  take  him  more  under  your  care." 

"  Well,  we  will  see.  There,  let  Bertie  and  his  troubles 
rest  until  to-morrow." 

She  wisely  said  no  more.  He  looked  over  a  late  maga 
zine,  and  read  her  some  extracts  from  a  scientific  article. 
Meanwhile  she  was  thinking.  What  if  this  episode, 
beginning  so  uncomfortably,  should  open  the  door  to  the 
duties  she  had  been  longing  for,  and  that  wider  sphere, 
the  opportunity  of  bringing  in  a  fresh  current  to  the 
household  so  becalmed  on  the  stagnant  shores  of  for 
mality  and  selfishness?  And  if  she  could  render  these 
children  dearer  to  their  father,  and  more  worthy  of  his 
love,  she  would,  at  least,  have  achieved  something  that 
would  justify  her  standing  in  their  mother's  place. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  The  wheels  of  time  work  heavily: 

We  marvel,  day  by  day, 
To  see  how  from  the  chain  of  life 
The  gilding  wears  away."  — L.  E.  L. 

BERTIE  KINNARD  came  down  to  breakfast  the  next  morn 
ing,  ashamed,  frightened,  and  sullen.  How  much  of  it  was 
due  to  Miss  Grove's  previous  lecture,  and  the  methods 
she  had  taken  to  convince  him  of  his  heinousness  in  seek 
ing  shelter  at  his  stepmother's  side,  and  daring  to  disobey 
7ier,  his  father  certainly  could  not  know.  A  long  list  of 
punishments  were  held  in  store,  small  daily  privations 
and  trials.  She  always  exacted  the  most  rigorous  justice. 

"  Come  here,"  said  his  father  after  the  meal  was  con 
cluded.  "  I  want  you  to  tell  me  the  exact  truth  about 
the  bracelet.  Did  you  break  it  ?  " 

"No,"  was  the. brief  reply. 

"  What  did  you  do  with  it? " 

"I  — I  looked  at  it." 

"  Here,  hold  up  your  head,  so.  If  you  are  telling  the 
truth,  you  need  not  be  ashamed.  What  else  did  you  do?" 

Bertie  glanced  about  uneasily,  and  picked  at  the  buttons 
on  his  coat.  There  was  a  dogged  look  in  his  face,  that 
betrayed  a  very  persistent  will,  after  all. 

"I  —  took  it  out  and  looked  at  it,  — and  —  put  it  back 
again,"  he  said  slowly. 

' '  You  are  very  sure  ? '" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Very  well,  Bertie,  I  am  going  to  believe  exactly  what 

9*  101 


102  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

you  say.  I  do  not  think  you  could  be  so  cowardly  or  so 
dishonorable  as  to  tell  your  father  a  falsehood.  There, 
put  on  your  hat,  and  take  a  good  long  run,  and  see  if 
you  cannot  find  a  pleasanter  face." 

"Barton!"  exclaimed  Miss  Grove,  while  her  brow 
crimsoned  with  anger,  "you  don't  mean  to  say  that  you 
believe  that  child  !  " 

"  I  said  it  certainly." 

' '  Do  you  suppose  I  could  have  trodden  on  that  brace 
let  (the  theory  you  advanced  last  night) ,  and  not  known 
or  remembered  it?  Maud,  I  know,  never  injured  it.  And 
Bertie  does  tell  falsehoods.  He  will  deny  any  thing  when 
there  is  the  slightest  chance  of  getting  clear." 

"I  cannot  explain  the  mystery,  Adelaide.  The  boy 
would  not  be  so  hardened  as  to  deny  it  without  a  blush 
surely :  if  so,  it  speaks  badly  for  his  past  training." 

He  knew  that  clinched  the  matter  for  his  sister-in-law. 
She  turned  almost  swarthy  in  her  passion,  being  deprived 
thus  of  her  strongest  weapon. 

"Very  well,"  she  snapped.  "  If  the  child  is  ruined 
by  your  foolish  indulgence,  so  let  it  be.  It  is  what  I  told 
you  a  year  ago.  '  Spare  the  rod,  and  spoil  the  child.'  I 
should  have  made  him  confess  it." 

"I  am  afraid  I  don't  put  as  much  faith  in  Solomon's 
wisdom  as  you  do,"  said  the  doctor  dryly.  "His  one 
son  was  not  a  very  brilliant  exponent  of  his  father's 
theory,  if  I  recollect  rightly.  We  have  had  quite  enough 
of  this,  I  fancy.  I'll  take  your  bracelet  into  town,  and 
get  it  repaired." 

"  Thank  you.  I  can  attend  to  it  myself;  "  and  she 
swept  out  of  the  hall  indignantly. 

"Well,"  said  the  doctor  when  his  mother  had  left 
the  room,  "  I  suppose  it  has  ended  very  unsatisfactorily. 
Still  I  couldn't  think  the  child  would  persist  in  a  false 
hood  ;  and  I  was  anxious  to  have  the  matter  ended.  I 
have  made  Adelaide  very  angry.  Have  I  pleased  any 
one?" 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  103 

"Bertie,  no  doubt.  I  have  an  odd  feeling  about  it. 
I  should  hate  to  say  that  I  was  not  convinced ;  and,  in 
any  case,  you  did  the  best.  It  is  something  to  a  child  to 
be  believed." 

"I  daresay  Aunt  Adelaide  will  make  it  up  to  him. 
However,  she  cannot  abridge  his  playtime,  nor  give  him 
a  thrashing.  Do  you  want  to  go  out  with  me  ?  If  so,  be 
ready  in  half  an  hour. ' ' 

Bertie's  school-bell  rang  ten  minutes  earlier  than  usual ; 
and  it  always  rang  fifteen  minutes  before  the  time,  in  order 
to  give  him  a  chance  to  get  in,  and  wash  his  hands  and  face 
before  school-hours  began.  These  few  minutes  were  a 
great  gratification  to  Miss  Grove.  Then  Bertie  had  his  ears 
snapped  soundly  until  they  were  like  a  bit  of  red  flannel. 
Boxing  had  been  interdicted  by  the  doctor.  In  fact,  the 
whole  morning  was  one  continuation  of  sundry  small  and 
aggravated  punishments,  which  made  Bertie  dull  at  his 
lessons,  and  perfect!}"  vicious  in  his  hatred  of  his  aunt. 
If  he  dared  to  tell  his  stepmother !  "Wouldn't  she  take 
his  part  again  ? 

Nelly  had  not  been  at  all  satisfied  with  the  doctor's 
manner  of  examining  into  the  case.  The  child  had  been 
disobedient  to  his  aunt,  ugly  to  his  sister,  and  cowardly 
at  the  end  of  it  all.  But,  seen  in  the  morning  light,  the 
affair  appeared  trivial  to  his  father  ;  and  he  was  glad  to 
dismiss  it  with  as  few  words  as  possible.  However,  she 
made  no  further  comment.  There  was  nothing  small  or 
nagging  in  her  nature. 

But  that  afternoon,  when  she  saw  Bertie  cross  the  field 
on  his  way  to  the  grove,  she  tied  on  her  sun-hat,  and  fol 
lowed  him.  When  quite  out  of  hearing  of  the  house,  she 
called  to  him.  He  watched  her  shyly  at  first,  and  did  not 
seem  inclined  to  be  very  friendly.  But,  after  a  while,  he 
ventured  to  sit  down  beside  her. 

"  Oh  !  what  are  you  doing,  Bertie?  "  she  cried  in  sur 
prise. 


104  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

The  child  had  a  grasshopper  in  his  hand,  which  he  was 
rapidly  dismembering. 

"  That  is  very,  very  cruel,"  she  went  on  quickl}*. 
"Bertie,  would  you  like  to  have  some  great  giant  come 
along,  and  pull  out  your  arms  and  legs  ?  Would  it  not 
hurt  you?" 

"  There  are  no  giants  ;  "  and  he  looked  up  triumphant 
ly.  "  Aunt  Adelaide  said  so.  She  wouldn't  let  me  read 
about  them,  because  it  was  not  true." 

' '  But  there  are  men  large  enough  and  strong  enough 
to  tear  you  limb  from  limb.  Look  at  that  poor  grass 
hopper.  You  have  killed  it.  Are  you  not  sorry  ?  The 
poor  little  thing  did  you  no  harm." 

"  Well,  it  was  only  a  grasshopper.  It  wasn't  good 
for  any  thing." 

"  What  are  you  good  for,  Bertie?  " 

The  child  hung  his  head. 

"  God  made  you  ;  and  he  made  the  grasshopper  also. 
Suppose  papa  was  to  say,  '  Bertie,  you  are  not  good  for 
any  thing :  so  I  will  cut  you  up  with  some  of  my  sharp 
knives.'  How  would  you  like  that?  " 

"  But  he  wouldn't,"  said  Bertie  confidently. 

"  No,  he  would  not,  because  he  loves  you.  And  God 
wants  you  to  love  whatever  helpless  and  innocent  little 
things  he  creates." 

Bertie  was  studying  a  knotty  problem,  and  had  not 
followed  the  last  clause  of  the  argument. 

"Does  he  love  me  since  he  went  to  Wachusett,  and 
married  you  ?  "  he  asked. 

Nelly  was  startled  and  annoyed.  She  thought  of  Miss 
Grove's  exceeding  conscientiousness  that  the  children 
should  not  witness  their  father's  marriage  ;  yet  she  had 
not  hesitated  to  explain  it  to  them,  greatly  in  her  dis 
favor.  Her  heart  swelled  with  the  sense  of  injustice. 
She  realized  that  she  must  fight  her  way  through  preju 
dices  and  opposition,  if  she  gained  any  thing.  The 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  105 

prospect  of  such  bitter  warfare  was  not  pleasant.  And 
much  of  it  must  be  borne  alone.  She  could  not  make 
Dr.  Kinnard  see  the  necessity  of  what  she  wished  to  do, 
much  that  she  considered  her  absolute  duty. 

"  Bertie,  papa  loves  you  just  as  well  now  as  he  did 
then  ;  and  he  wants  you  to  be  a  good  and  noble  boy,  so 
that  he  can  love  you  better  every  day." 

"  But  what  did  he  marry  you  for,  then?  " 

"  That  I  might  come  here,  and  love  you  also.  Your 
own  mamma  is  dead,  and  I  am  to  take  her  place,  to  show 
you  how  to  be  a  good  boy,  and  please  papa.  Will  you 
not  try  to  love  me  a  little?  "  and  Nelly's  voice  trembled. 

But  the  question  had  no  seriousness  in  it  for  him.  He 
looked  up  stolidly,  his  mind  intent  on  his  own  thoughts. 

"  Sa}V  he  began  presently,  "  won't  you  make  Aunt 
Adelaide  let  me  have  some  supper  when  papa  doesn't 
come  home?  I'm  so  hungry  always." 

"  Were  you  hungry  last  night?  " 

Bertie  hung  his  head,  and  looked  ashamed. 

"  It  was  not  at  all  brave,  Bertie,  to  skulk  off  to  bed 
when  you  knew  you  had  been  naughty.  If  }*ou  were  tell 
ing  the  truth  about  the  bracelet,  you  should  have  come 
in,  and  said  to  Aunt  Adelaide  that  you  were  sorry  for 
disobeying  her,  and  begged  sister's  pardon  for  kicking 
her"  — 

"But  she  struck  me,"  he  interrupted.  "Aunt  Ade 
laide  always  lets  her." 

"  But  papa  told  her  that  she  must  not  do  so  any  more. 
If  she  should,  you  are  to  tell  him.  It  is  very  rough  and 
ungentlemanly  to  strike  or  kick  a  girl." 

"  I'll  tell  papa  next  time ;  "  and  Bertie  shook  his  head 
with  emphasis. 

"  And  3^ou  will  be  kind  to  her,  will  you  not?  " 

The  child  stared  vacantly. 

"  And  to  the  grasshoppers.  It  is  wicked  to  be  so 
cruel ;  and  God  does  not  love  cruel  children.  Do  you 
know  who  God  is,  Bertie?  " 


106  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  God  lives  up  in  the  sky.  He  sees  all  I  do  ;  and,  if  I 
am  a  bad  boy,  he  will  punish  me  everlastingly." 

He  said  it  like  a  lesson  learned  by  rote,  with  no  more 
real  feeling  than  if  he  had  been  stating  the  commonest 
fact  about  the  earth  at  his  feet.  Nelly  looked  at  him  in 
amaze. 

"  And  are  you  not  afraid  of  being  punished?  " 

"  I'm  afraid  of  Aunt  Adelaide.  God  can't  come  here 
and  punish  me ;  and  I'll  tell  you  what  I  mean  to  do," 
bending  his- head  confidentially —  "  I  shall  be  a  big  man 
then,  and  I  won't  go  where  he  is.  I'd  like  to  run  away 
from  Aunt  Adelaide." 

"  Why  did  you  not  last  night?  You  had  a  good  oppor 
tunity." 

"  Because  I  am  only  a  little  boy.  I'll  wait  until  I  get 
to  be  a  man.  I'll  see  if  she'll  snap  my  ears  then,  and 
make  me  hold  a  big  book  so  she  can  rap  my  knuckles. 
I'll  kill  her  if  she  does  !  " 

"O  Bertie,  Bertie !"  cried  Nelly,  aghast.  Poor  little 
heathen !  And  this  had  been  the  result  of  his  training. 
He  understood  fear  and  hate  ;  but  did  he  know  the  mean 
ing  of  love?  She  would  try  him  again. 

"  Bertie,  do  you  love  papa?" 

"  Yes,"  returned  Bertie  readily. 

"  What  do  you  do  when  you  love  a  person? " 

Bertie  drew  a  long  breath,  and  thought  for  a  moment ; 
then  wisely  and  truly  answered,  "I  don't  know." 

"You  try  to  please  them;  you  obey  them  when  they 
ask  3'ou  to  do  any  thing;  you  would  never  strike  them, 
nor  do  any  thing  cruel  to  them,  nor  tell  them  a  falsehood. 
Can  you  remember  this?" 

Bertie  gave  her  a  searching  glance.  He  felt,  somehow, 
that  he  had  lost  caste ;  and,  with  a  child's  eager  vanity, 
he  wanted  to  redeem  himself. 

"But  I  know  my  tables,"  he  said,  "and  who  all  the 
great  generals  were ;  and  I'm  studying  Latin.  Caesar 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  107 

conquered  Gaul,  and  a  great  part  of  Britain.  Afterwards, 
the  Normans  went  over  with  William  the  Conqueror ; 
and,  oh  !  I  know  all  of  the  kings  of  England  and  France. 
Sometimes  they  have  had  emperors.  And  the  King  of 
Russia  is  called  a  czar.  Russia  is  the  largest  division  in 
Europe.  Switzerland  is  the  only  republic  ;  "  and  the  child 
paused  for  a  breath. 

"What  a  purely  mechanical  being!"  Nelly  thought 
with  a  sad  smile. 

"  Never  mind,"  she  said  :  "  we  will  talk  of  other  mat 
ters,  though  you  have  studied  well,  Bertie."  And  then 
she  endeavored  to  rouse  his  mind  into  some  kind  of  per 
sonal  activity ;  but  it  was  disheartening  work.  Miss 
Grove  was  no  believer  in  filling  a  child's  head  with  any 
thing  but  good,  substantial  facts.  She  snubbed  and 
discouraged  all  curiosity  on  the  part  of  a  young  pupil. 
Very  methodical,  very  precise,  cold  by  nature,  she  had  no 
patience  with  the  sentimental  part  of  humanity.  To  dress 
well,  and  keep  neat  and  clean  ;  to  behave  properly  on  all 
occasions  ;  to  have  the  mind  well  stored  with  knowledge, 
the  taste  cultivated  in  certain  respects  ;  to  be  dignified  and 
ladylike  for  a  girl,  manly  and  stoical  for  a  boy,  —  she  held 
the  most  necessary  requirements  of  life.  The  children 
had  known  none  of  the  caressing  tenderness  and  sympathy 
that  had  been  daily  food  to  the  Endicotts.  Their  mother 
consigned  them  to  a  nurse.  Their  father  saw  them  but 
seldom  ;  and  he  had  not  been  a  demonstrative  man  in  those 
earlier  years.  Though  they  had  been  rather  delicate,  yet 
no  dangerous  illness  had  ever  roused  his  anxiety  concern 
ing  them  ;  and,  under  Miss  Grove's  government,  they  were 
still  farther  removed  from  him.  Nelly's  first  feeling  about 
them  had  been  quite  true :  they  were  not  dear,  naughty, 
sweet,  delightful  children. 

No :  there  was  nothing  to  call  out  the  mother-love  that 
glorifies  so  many  women.  These  Endicott  girls  had  been 
nourished  on  it,  —  first  from  their  mother,  and  then  the 


108  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

habit  each  older  girl  fell  into  of  loving  and  caring  for 
younger  ones,  of  playing  mother,  in  turn.  For  a  little 
while  Nelly  felt  cold  and  sick  at  heart.  Might  she  not  as 
well  let  it  go?  The  children  would  have  all  physical 
comforts,  —  be  well  educated,  well  dressed,  make  average 
people,  no  doubt,  and  be  just  as  grateful  to  her  as  if  she 
gave  her  very  life  for  them.  Their  father  did  not  bring 
her  here  for  their  comfort,  but  his  own.  And  here  was 
their  aunt,  who  desired  the  sole  charge.  How  easily  she 
could  slip  off  any  responsibility  ! 

But  her  duty !  Was  it  not  to  bring  into  these  pinched, 
bleak,  and  barren  lives  some  of  the  sweetness  and 
strength,  the  beauty  and  comfort,  that  had  been  put  in 
hers,  scattered  all  along  her  twenty  years  of  richness  and 
fulness?  Perhaps  that  was  just  what  God  had  given  it 
all  for,  —  so  wide  and  delightful  a  kingdom  !  —  that  she 
might  call  in  not  only  the  charming,  the  refined,  and 
those  quick  of  sight  and  mood,  but  the  halt  and  the 
blind,  those  by  the  great  wayside,  that,  after  all,  compre 
hends  so  much. 

At  the  very  alphabet  of  love  she  must  begin,  and  raise 
the  ignorant,  careless  feet  that  would  stumble  so  often. 
Bertie  sat  there  studying  the  beautiful  but  perturbed  face, 
and  thinking,  child-fashion,  of  himself. 

"Couldn't  you  teach  me  my  lessons?"  he  asked  pres 
ently.  "  I'd  try  not  to  miss  a  word ;  and,  if  you  wouldn't 
make  me  stand  in  the  corner  "  — 

' '  What  do  you  do  in  the  corner  ?  " 

"Why,  I  hold  a  big  book,  so."  And  he  jumped  up, 
taking  a  broken  stick  in  his  hands  to  represent  the  book, 
which  he  held  about  on  a  level  with  his  chin.  "  Then,  if 
I  don't  keep  it  just  straight,  she  cracks  me  with  a  ruler. 
It  makes  me  so  tired !  "  and  he  sighed. 

Indeed,  all  manner  of  pett}*  punishments  had  been 
invented  by  Miss  Grove  since  the  whipping  was  tabooed. 
Her  rigid  sense  of  justice  must  be  satisfied  in  some 
manner. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  109 

"The  best  way,  Bertie,  is  to  be  a  good  boy.  Try  to 
please  Aunt  Adelaide." 

"But  Maud  tells  on  me  alwa}Ts ;  and,  when  I  tell  on 
her,  Aunt  Adelaide  won't  listen." 

Maud  was  evidently  Aunt  Adelaide's  favorite.  Bertie 
was  too  old  and  too  sharp-eyed  not  to  be  injured  by  the 
show  of  partiality.  Yet,  if  Miss  Grove  did  not  love  him, 
even  in  her  rigid  manner,  why  should  she  strive  to  keep 
him  so  completely  within  her  influence  ? 

Yet,  in  her  way,  Miss  Grove  was  extremely  conscien 
tious.  Her  duty  to  her  dead  sister's  children,  —  that  was 
her  watchword  ;  and,  undemonstrative  as  her  regard  for 
them  appeared,  she  would  have  fought  for  them,  if  occasion 
required.  She  would  have  watched  every  sharp  word  or 
look  from  Dr.  Kinnard's  new  wife,  resented  any  thing  like 
a  show  of  authority,  and  made  the  children's  interests 
paramount  in  the  family,  if  she  could.  She  even  hated 
their  father's  interference.  Already  she  was  jealous  of 
the  3'oung  stepmother ;  and  that  was  one  reason  of  her 
great  coldness.  If  Dr.  Kinnard  had  gone  over  to  the 
fair  enem}-,  the  children  should  not,  without  a  great 
struggle  on  her  part. 

"  No  wife  can  love  another  woman's  children,"  she  had 
said  to  the  doctor's  mother.  "  They  will  not  expect  it. 
Poor  things  !  It  is  little  they  will  have  of  their  father's 
affection,  either.  But  I  think  it  my  duty  to  stay,  and 
see  that  they  are  not  unjustly  treated.  Nothing  else 
would  keep  me  here  a  da}r." 

So  she  judged  that  she  had  a  right  to  put  the  children 
on  their  guard,  as  she  phrased  it.  How  much  of  this 
bitter  duty-work  is  done  in  the  world  ! 

But  that  evening,  as  Nelly  Kinnard  sat  by  her  hus 
band's  side,  talking  over  various  small  household  matters, 
she  said,  — 

"  Barton,  I  do  believe  it  would  be  better  to  send  Bertie 
to  school.  He  wants  companionship.  Does  he  never 
play  with  any  neighboring  children  ?  " 


110  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  I  really  don't  know.  There  are  children  about.  I 
have  been  thinking  of  it  myself  to-day.  I  like  boys  to 
be  boys.  The}7  are  to  fill  men's  places  in  the  world,  not 
women's.  But  Adelaide  would  feel  dreadfully  vexed 
about  it." 

' '  I  suppose  there  are  no  good  day-schools  nearer  than 
the  village?" 

"  Oh  !  "  the  doctor  said,  with  a  nod  or  two.  "  I  had 
thought  of  boarding-school." 

"  But  he  is  so  3'oung !  No  :  I  should  not  like  to  have 
him  sent  away  from  home, —  this  year,  at  least ;  "  and  she 
colored  delicately. 

He  inferred  her  reason,  and  respected  it.  "  There  are 
two  or  three  excellent  schools  in  the  village.  He  could  be 
taken  in  the  morning,  I  suppose.  But  I  don't  alwaj-s  go 
in  one  direction;  which  makes  me  think,  Nelly  —  how 
would  you  like  to  have  a  horse  of  your  own  ?  " 

"  Oh,  delightful !     And  yet  I  always  go  out  with  you." 

"  But  some  time  the  girls  will  be  here,  I  hope  ;  or  are 
you  keeping  them  away  out  of  pure  jealousy,  Mrs.  Kin- 
iiard?  I  do  admire  Queen  Bess  exceedingly.  Well, 
then,  you  would  like  to  have  a  separate  establishment  of 
your  own  ? " 

' '  How  good  you  are  to  me  !  " 

' '  Am  I  ?  No  doubt  but  that  I  shall  be  a  stern  tyrant 
in  the  course  of  a  few  years.  You  had  better  make  your 
hay  during  this  fine  spell  of  weather." 

"  Barton,"  she  said  a  little  shyly,  "  I  had  a  reason  for 
putting  off  the  promised  visit.  You  said  Miss  Grove 
always  went  away  in  August." 

"•  Exactly.  We  should  enjoy  ourselves  better,  I  think. 
Only  the  house  is  to  be  altered  then." 

"  I  shall  not  mind  that.  There  is  so  much  room 
beside !  And  I  don't  believe  you  would  mind  our  using 
the  '  den  '  occasionally." 

"Well,  that  is  cool  too.     I  don't  seem  to   know  the 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  Ill 

place  any  more.  What  with  your  tidiness,  }^our  flowers, 
and  3'our  changes  here  and  there,  I  am  almost  afraid  to 
set  down  my  old  boots  in  a  corner  when  I  come  home 
tired." 

"  You  may,  for  all  that ;  "  and  she  laughed  gayly. 

"  What  were  we  talking  about?  Oh !  a  pony.  I  think 
I  will  keep  a  lookout  for  a  suitable  animal ;  for  I  should 
find  it  a  convenience  myself." 

"  And  I  could  take  Bertie  to  school.  It  will  be  ever  so 
much  better  for  him ! " 

"  Let  me  see  :  why,  this  is  the  last  of  July !  Adelaide 
has  not  said  a  word  as  yet ;  "  and  Dr.  Kinnard  looked  at 
his  wife  in  the  utmost  surprise.  "  I  have  spoken  to  Bailey, 
too  —  gave  him  that  plan  of  yours  ;  and  he  is  to  drop  in 
some  day  to  take  dinner  with  us,  and  then  view  the 
premises.  But  I  do  hope  Adelaide  goes  away." 

"  You  will  speak  of  it,  though?  " 

' '  No.  Why  should  I  ?  She  will  advance  twenty  good 
reasons  why  it  should  not  be  done  ;  and  I  shall  have  to 
combat  each  one  singly,  and  the  whole  in  a  lump.  I  hate 
women's  arguments  ;  "  and  a  little  frown  settled  between 
the  doctor's  eyes. 

"  I  am  afraid  she  would  think  it —  And,  if  the  furni 
ture  was  injured  "  — 

' '  I  wish  every  one  of  those  things  was  out  of  the 
house!"  cried  the  doctor  testily.  "Nelly,  I  am  thank 
ful  that  you  haven't  any  money,  and  can't  buy  so  much  as 
a  salt-cup.  I  have  heard  about  them  all  my  life,  and 
am  likely  to  hear  until  I  fall  into  my  dotage  —  unless  I 
make  a  bonfire  of  them." 

"  But  that  would  be  a  matter  of  courtesy,  —  speaking, 
I  mean.  Miss  Grove  is  very  choice  of  the  parlor,  and 
feels  that  she  has  a  prior  claim.  She  might  suppose  it 
—  my  idea  ; ' '  and  Nelly  paused  in  a  flush  of  embarrass 
ment. 

"As   if    it  wasn't!"    said    the    doctor    banteringly. 


112  NELLY  KLNNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  But  you  know,  Nelly,  how  I  hate  fuss  and  long  argu 
ments." 

He  was  evidently  bent  upon  having  his  own  way,  and 
she  said  no  more.  If  she  had  found  a  weak  side  to  her 
husband,  this  was  it.  It  was  no  real  lack  of  moral  cour 
age,  but  the  putting-off  of  an  evil  day,  —  a  species  of 
procrastination  that  peace-loving  people  indulge  in  fre 
quently. 

The  first  of  August  came  in.  Vacation  began  for  the 
children,  though  it  could  hardly  be  called  that.  Aunt 
Adelaide  was  strict  about  the  music  practices,  and  ques 
tioned  Bertie  every  night  concerning  the  summer's  les 
sons.  During  the  past  fortnight,  he  and  Nelhr  had  made 
some  very  faint  advances  ;  but  Aunt  Adelaide's  eyes  were 
sharp.  Then  the  pony  and  a  new  phaeton  came  home, 
and  he  was  promised  a  ride. 

And  then  happened  a  most  unlucky  contretemps.  Mr. 
Bailey  "  dropped  in,"  according  to  promise.  Dr.  Kinnard 
was  expected  home,  but  did  not  come  ;  and  they  sat  down 
to  dinner  promptl}".  If  Nelly  could  have  summoned 
sufficient  courage  to  beg  of  him  not  to  mention  the  altera 
tion  ;  but  it  seemed  small  and  underhand.  So  she  exerted 
herself,  and  was  so  entertaining,  that  she  led  the  worthy 
man  completely  away  from  business  until  there  was  a 
lull  during  the  dessert. 

"I  am  sorry  the  doctor  stays  so,"  he  began  suddenly. 
"  You  think  he  will  be  home  presently,  Mrs.  Kinnard?  I 
wanted  to  discuss  his  new  project  with  him,  and  get  to 
work  next  week.  I  liked  that  plan  of  yours  ever  so 
much ;  for  it  strikes  me  those  rooms  are  gloomy ;  ' '  and 
he  turned  his  head  to  take  a  survey.  "  But  why  not 
have  a  small  room  there  at  the  back  for  flowers,  instead 
of  a  bay-window  merely?  " 

Miss  Grove  fixed  her  eyes  upon  Nelly  with  a  sort 
of  astonished  deliberation  that  called  the  color  to  the 
fair  young  face. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  113 

"I  don't  know,"  she  stammered  rather  hesitatingly. 
"As  the  doctor  fancies." 

"  Of  course,  of  course  !  we  bow  to  his  decision  ;  "  and 
Mr.  Bailey  gave  a  cheerful  smile.  "  I  wonder  that  he 
never  had  folding-doors  cut  through  there  before.  It 
looks  so  much  more  sociable,  and  is  convenient  in  many 
cases  ;  such  as  a  large  company,  for  instance.  Realty, 
Mrs.  Kinnard,  your  coming  will  work  a  great  change  in 
the  doctor.  He  was  making  quite  a  hermit  of  himself. 
Doesn't  the  good  book  say  it  is  not  good  for  man  to  be 
alone?" 

"  Though  it  can  hardly  be  said  that  Dr.  Kinnard  was 
alone,"  was  Miss  Grove's  pointed  rebuke. 

"Well,  no  —  not  exactly;"  and  Mr.  Bailey  gave  a 
rather  uncomfortable  laugh.  "But  then,  you  see,  Miss 
Grove,  no  one  is  quite  like  a  wife  to  a  man." 

"Herbert!"  cried  Miss  Grove  sharply,  "you  are 
eating  with  jour  spoon.  Take  your  fork,  sir  !  "  and  she 
straightened  up  her  tall  figure  with  a  severe  air. 

Mr.  Bailey  pushed  back  his  chair.  "Yes,"  he  con 
tinued,  "I  am  right  sorry  the  doctor  is  not  here;  but 
I  suppose  you  can  tell  me  the  particulars  all  the  same. 
A  good  wife  and  a  good  husband  generally  agree  ;  "  with 
an  effort  at  geniality.  "  If  you  wouldn't  mind  taking  a 
survey  of  the  rooms  with  me,  and  making  any  sugges 
tions.  I  shall  be  likely  to  come  across  the  doctor  in  the 
village  afterwards." 

Nelly  rose,  and  marshalled  him  through.  If  it  only 
had  not  happened  in  this  manner ! 

Mr.  Bailey  took  measurements,  sounded  the  walls,  and 
made  sundry  business-like  comments.  Then  he  examined 
the  place  for  the  bay-window. 

"Yes,  it  is  just  as  I  told  the  doctor.  You 'see,  the 
kitchen  runs  out  here  in  a  jog ;  and  that  is  going  to  make 
a  bad  shade  for  one  side  of  }"our  window.  Now,  if  this 
was  a  kind  of  extension,  instead,  the  end  all  glass, 


114  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

and  shelved,  you  see.  And  this  window  might  be  changed 
to  a  door,  giving  you  an  entrance,  and  a  pretty  porch, 
here  on  the  west  side." 

"That  would  be  convenient  and  delightful."  And 
Nelly's  eyes  were  aglow  with  pleasure. 

"That  is  what  I  should  have,  if  the  house  was  mine. 
You  will  like  it,  I  know.  Now  may  I  see  the  parlor?  " 

Nelly  looked  helplessly  at  Miss  Grove  a  moment,  then 
opened  the  door  in  great  fear  and  trembling.  It  was 
the  first  time  she  had  entered  the  place  of  her  own 
accord.  It  seemed  to  be  kept  sacred  to  the  memory  of 
"m}' poor  dead  sister,"  and  embalmed  with  sighs.  The 
tight  shutters  were  alwa3*s  tightly  closed,  except  at  the 
weekly  dustings.  It  was  dark  as  a  prison  now,  and  she 
groped  her  way,  stumbling  over  an  ottoman  ;  but,  after 
much  exertion,  she  managed  to  get  a  ray  of  light. 

"Yes,  j'ou'll  find  folding-doors  a  decided  advantage,  so 
much  more  cheerful.  It  will  be  a  great  improvement,  — 
a  very  great  improvement.  Just  talk  it  over  with  the 
doctor :  we  surely  ought  to  be  able  to  convince  him. 
Tell  him  how  sorry  I  was  to  miss  him." 

And  so  on,  until  Mr.  Bailey  had  talked  himself  out  of 
the  parlor,  and  out  of  the  hall,  expatiating  in  his  most 
convincing  tone  upon  the  benefit  the  alteration  would  be, 
and  at  last  wishing  her  a  hearty  good-day. 


CHAPTER  X. 

How  happy  is  he  born  and  taught, 

That  serveth  not  another's  will, 
Whose  armor  is  his  honest  thought, 

And  simple  truth  his  utmost  skill.  —  WOTTON. 

NELLY  KINNARD  turned  with  a  flushing  face  toward  the 
two  women  who  she  knew  were  sitting  in  judgment  upon 
her.  Bertie  had  been  dismissed  ;  but  Maud  was  standing 
by  the  window  with  her  self-complacent  smirk. 

"  Mrs.  Kinnard,"  Miss  Grove  began  with  asperity, 
"  may  I  venture  to  inquire  the  meaning  of  this  business? 
Is  the  one  room  that  I  hoped  could  be  kept  in  some  degree 
sacred  to  the  memory  of  '  my  poor  dear  sister,'  for  her 
children's  sake,  to  be  turned  into  a  common  thoroughfare  ? 
My  brother-in-law  has  given  you  his  office  for  a  sitting- 
room"  (and  this  was  uttered  spitefully)  ;  "  yet  it  seems 
you  are  not  content." 

"  And  what  did  he  say  about  that  window?  "  exclaimed 
Mother  Kinnard.  "  It  is  the  only  spot  on  this  floor  where 
I  sit  and  sew.  It  has  been  my  window  ever  since  I  came 
into  the  house.  But,  Adelaide,  we  are  of  trifling  account 
now.  Our  years  of  care  and  devotion  can  go  for  noth 
ing." 

Miss  Grove  made  a  lofty  gesture,  as  much  as  to  say, 
' '  Your  j-ears  of  devotion  —  what  are  they  compared  with 
mine?  "  Then,  confronting  Mrs.  Kinnard,  she  continued 
in  an  injured  tone,  "  At  least,  I  might  have  had  sufficient 
.warning  to  remove  my  poor  dead  sister's  furniture.  That 
belongs  to  her  children.  It  was  bought  with  her  money." 

115 


116  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  Dr.  Kinnard  will  make  ample 
arrangements  for  every  thing.  He  has  spoken  to  Mr. 
Bailey  about  some  alterations  ;  and,  when  he  has  decided, 
he  will  no  doubt  inform  you,"  Nelly  said  quietly,  and 
would  have  passed  on.  But  Miss  Grove  did  not  mean 
that  she  should  escape  so  easily. 

"  You  are  very  innocent  of  the  whole  thing,  Mrs.  Kin 
nard  !  ' '  she  retorted  scornfully.  ' '  Mr.  Bailey  spoke  of 
the  plan  being  yours.  I  have  made  it  a  rule  of  my  life 
to  set  an  example  of  truth — before  children  at  least," 
and  she  glanced  at  Maud. 

"  We  have  discussed  it  together,  Miss  Grove ;  and  I 
did  plan  a  bay-window  for  some  flowers.  Dr.  Kinnard 
is  to  settle  the  matter  as  he  chooses." 

"  And  a  sweet  penny  it  will  cost  before  you  get 
through!  "  cried  the  elder  lady.  "  I  suppose  the  whole 
house  must  be  refurnished,  and  changes  upon  changes ! 
My  son  is  not  a  rich  man  by  any  means,  Mrs.  Kinnard." 

Nelly's  blood  rushed  to  her  heart  tumultuousl}*,  and  her 
face  was  scarlet  with  indignation.  Yet  she  would  not  be 
drawn  into  a  quarrel  with  either  of  these  women :  so  she 
made  great  effort  at  self-control. 

"  You  will  have  the  same  right  to  discuss  the  matter 
with  Dr.  Kinnard  that  I  have,"  she  returned  with  dignity. 
"If  there  are  any  complaints,  make  them  to  him." 
Then  she  passed  by  the  irate  sister-in-law,  and  almost 
flew  up  stairs. 

She  heard  the  tongues  long  afterward.  Why  could 
they  not  concede  gracefully  that  she  had  some  rights  in 
the  house,  since  the}'  knew  well  that  they  could  not  drive 
her  out  of  it  by  any  amount  of  opposition?  The  little 
sneers  and  invidious  comments  were  bad  enough,  and 
often  stung  her  sorely  ;  but  open  quarrels  she  considered 
disgraceful.  She  had  a  pride,  too,  about  not  being  drawn 
into  them.  The  neighborhood  should  not  feast  over  the 
fact  of  the  "  Kinnard  disagreements,"  if  she  could  help 
it. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  117 

The  whole  afternoon  passed,  and  no  husband.  She  had 
not  even  the  heart  to  try  her  pony.  Did  they  grudge  her 
her  husband's  gifts?  It  would  seem  so;  and  yet  both 
women  were  blessed  with  an  abundance  of  their  own. 

He  came  at  last,  tired  out,  and  a  little  cross  it  must  be 
confessed ;  and  he  dropped  down  on  the  great  lounge 
with  only  a  brief  word  or  two,  and  laid  there  until  the 
bell  rang  for  supper. 

"  How  pleasant  it  is  to  have  you  here,  Nelly !  "  he  said 
then.  "  I  used  to  think  I  would  never  be  able  to  endure 
a  woman  about  my  office  ;  but  I  really  believe  you  im 
prove  it,  37ou  dark-eyed  gypsy.  What  has  happened 
to-day?  Been  to  ride,  or  had  any  letters?  " 

"  Neither.  I  sewed  all  the  morning.  But  come,  or 
we  shall  keep  supper  waiting.  After  that,  I  want  a  talk 
with  you." 

He  kissed  her  fondly.  He  did  love  her  very  much ; 
and  she  suddenly  felt  strong  again. 

The  supper-table  atmosphere  was  not  a  genial  one. 
Bertie  was  very  unfortunate.  Nothing  but  his  father's 
presence  saved  his  being  sent  from  the  table.  Nelly's 
heart  swelled  with  a  sense  of  injustice.  Once  Dr.  Kin- 
nard  said  rather  shortly,  "  Adelaide,  the  child  would  do 
better  if  you  did  not  badger  him  continually." 

Miss  Grove  raised  her  head  with  a  most  exasperating, 
martyr-like  endurance,  but,  for  a  wonder,  did  not  reply. 

"Well,"  questioned  the  doctor  when  they  were  again 
alone,  "  are  you  going  to  scold  because  I  absented  my 
self  all  day?  I  really  could  not  help  it,  I  assure  you. 
And  I  met  Mrs.  Glyndon  at  the  house  of  a  patient.  I 
am  to  take  you  to  her  house  to  dinner  to-morrow." 

"  It  will  be  very  entertaining  to  go,"  said  Nelly  with 
a  smile. 

"Yes.  What  a  talker  that  woman  is!  Her  head  is 
crammed  full  of  '  isms '  and  '  ologies  '  and  quips  and 
quirks.  She  should  have  had  half  a  dozen  babies  ! " 


118  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

"  Mr.  Bailey  was  here  to  dinner,"  Nelly  ventured  in 
the  pause. 

"No!  Was  he?  Did  he  talk  business  ?"  And  there 
was  an  amused  twinkle  in  the  doctor's  eye. 

"  Yes.  Your  mother  and  Miss  Grove  were  very  much 
surprised,"  she  answered  in  a  low  tone. 

"And  there  was  a  declaration  of  war  afterward?  I 
can  just  imagine  how  the  avalanche  descended  on  their 
devoted  heads.  '  'Twas  ever  thus  from  childhood's  hour.' 
I  believe  I  never  undertook  any  thing  without  having  to 
fight  my  way  through  a  storm  of  women's  reasons  ;  "  and 
he  gave  a  low  laugh. 

"  It  was  not  at  all  funny  to  me,"  exclaimed  Nelly  in 
a  grave  tone. 

' '  They  surely  did  not  dare  ' '  — 

"  They  were  indignant,  and  fancied  that  I  was  at  the 
bottom  of  the  concealment." 

The  doctor  indulged  in  a  prolonged  whistle,  though 
Nelly's  face  made  him  feel  rather  conscience-stricken. 

"My  dear  girl,  I  ought  to  have  explained:  that  is  a 
fact.  But  I  thought  to  be  here,  and  I  hate  so  much  talking 
about  a  thing.  Surely  a  man  .of  my  age  has  a  right  to 
jiave  some  voice  in  his  own  house.  But  I  will  have  it 
settled  to-morrow  ;  and,  Nelly,  if  you  want  a  bay-window 
in  every  room  in  the  house,  you  shall  have  it.  Come, 
tell  me  what  was  said." 

Nelly  repeated  a  little  of  the  talk,  while  her  inmost 
soul  made  a  protest  against  tale-bearing.  But,  after  all, 
she  should  only  lose  by  keeping  silence.  She  could  no 
touch  the  hearts  of  either  of  these  women  by  the  m 
heroic  self-abnegation.  They  were  determined  to  reduce 
her  sphere  to  its  smallest  compass.  If  they  would 
attempt  it  openly,  before  her  husband.  But  they  stood  in 
awe  of  him  ;  and  she  had  to  suffer  in  a  dozen  underhand 
ways.  Could  she  go  on  doing  it,  and  keep  her  grace,  her 
sweetness,  her  patience,  the  household  virtues  that  had 
been  cultivated  in  the  home  of  her  girlhood  ? 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  119 

Could  she  do  it  ?  Why,  was  not  this  the  very  work  of 
life  ?  What  did  it  avail  to  be  charming  in  temper  and 
moods  when  the  whole  world  was  brilliant  with  sunshine, 
and  glowing  with  tenderness?  The  Saviour  had  said, 
"  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,"  why,  then,  should  she 
doubt?  Was  it  not  for  such  times  and  seasons  that  it 
had  been  promised  ?  And  there  stole  over  her  face  a  soft 
half-smile.  He  would  keep  her  safely. 

"  What  is  it?"  and,  coming  around,  Dr.  Kinnard  took 
his  wife's  hand  in  his,  and  stooped  to  kiss  the  soft  lips  as 
he  seated  himself  beside  her.  "What  lighted  up  your 
face  in  that  lovely  glow?  " 

She  flushed  a  little,  and  her  eyes  drooped. 

"I  don't  know  as  I  can  quite  make  you  understand," 
she  said  with  a  touch  of  hesitation.  "  I  was  somewhat 
discouraged  at  the  thought  of  my  own  weakness ;  and 
then  came  to  me  a  glimpse  of  the  other  strength.  If  I 
can  keep  clinging  to  it  when  I  feel  cross  and  impatient 
and  troubled.  If  I  can  keep  in  the  midst  of  the  blessed 
ness  given  out  daily,  and  then  give  again,  as  I  have 
received.  O  Barton !  I  do  hope  I  shall  be  a  good  wife 
to  you.  I  always  mean  to." 

' '  Good  !  You  are  like  a  little  angel !  "he  said  with  a 
voice  that  had  something  in  it  like  a  forced  laugh,  lest 
the  undercurrent  of  quiver  should  betray  itself.  And  yet 
he  was  strangely  touched,  moved  in  a  way  that  he  would 
have  been  ashamed,  in  his  man's  fashion,  to  explain. 

He  righted  himself  at  the  breakfast-table  the  next 
morning. 

"  I  am  going  to  have  the  house  altered  a  little,  Ade 
laide,"  he  said,  turning  to  Miss  Grove.  "  Are  you  going 
to  take  a  summer  vacation?  If  so,  I  will  wait  until  you 
and  the  children  are  away,  as  it  will  make  a  rather 
troublesome  time  during  a  week,  at  least.  Shall  you  go 
to  the  seashore  ?  ' ' 

"  I  really  have  not  decided,"  returned  the  lady  indif 
ferently. 


120  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  The  work  will  be  down  here  on  the  parlor-floor,  and 
not  interfere  with  the  sleeping-rooms.  I  shall  have 
folding-doors  put  in  between  the  rooms,  and  some  kind 
of  a  place  built  out  at  the  southern  end.  —  Nelly,  I  think 
that  idea  of  Bailey's,  about  a  porch  there,  was  excel 
lent." 

"  I  don't  see  what  you  want  to  tear  the  house  to  pieces 
for,  Barton,"  said  his  mother  peevishly.  "It  is  good 
and  substantial,  and  there  is  plenty  of  room  in  it  —  at 
least,  there  always  was.  And  that  south  window  is  my 
favorite  place." 

"  There  will  still  be  windows  to  the  south,  and  favorite 
places,  all  the  same." 

"  But,  if  3rou  are  going  to  put  flowers  there,  I  can  have 
no  good  of  it  at  all.  Flowers  are  unhealthy.  I  should 
think  you,  being  a  ph}-sician  "  — 

"But  recent  scientific  facts  have  shown  that  flowers 
are  healthy,  even  in  sleeping-rooms.  And  there  will  be 
all  summer  when  they  are  out  of  doors.  I  want  the 
place  brightened  up  a  bit,  and  opened  occasionally.  I 
never  did  like  the  shut-in  feeling  those  two  rooms  give 
any  one."  t 

"  But  it  always  was  good  enough." 

"  Was  it  ?  "  rejoined  the  doctor  dryly.  "  I  think  I  have 
heard  a  deal  of  complaining  in  my  da}-." 

Both  women  remembered,  sorely  against  their  will,  that 
nothing  about  it  had  ever  suited  "  Mary." 

"I  suppose  you  mean  to  furnish  anew?"  said  Miss 
Grove  loftily. 

"Well  —  really  —  I  had  not  thought  about  that,"  was 
the  rather  slow  answer. 

"  I  have  endeavored,  since  my  poor  dear  sister's  death, 
to  keep  her  furniture  as  nicely  as  possible.  Maud  will  be 
grown aip,  some  day  ;  and  the  articles  may  have  a  sacred- 
ness  for  her  that  they  fail  to  keep  for  any  one  else.  And 
I  do  object  to  having  the  parlor  made  a  common  thorough- 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  121 

fare.  It  always  seems  decidedly  vulgar  to  me  to  have 
every  thing  in  a  glare  of  light  and  shabbiness." 

She  had  gone  a  little  too  far.  There  was  an  ominous 
sparkle  in  the  doctor's  eye.  . 

"I  suppose  the  house  is  mine,  if  the  furniture  is  not, 
Adelaide,"  he  returned  in  that  intensely  quiet  tone  he 
used  when  he  meant  to  speak  but  once.  "  If  3rou  prefer 
keeping  it  for  Maud,  I  am  quite  willing.  I  would  much 
rather  furnish  anew.  There  is  a  nice  room  up  in  the  attic 
that  you  can  use  for  storage  ;  and  in  future  there  need  be 
no  fears  about  opening  or  using  the  room.  I  intend  to 
see  Bailey  to-day,  and  want  to  begin  the  first  of  next  week. 
Mat  shall  be  at  your  service  in  carrying  up  the  furniture, 
or  an}'  thing  else  you  need." 

The  scarlet  blaze  of  anger  had  died  out  of  Miss  Grove's 
face,  and  an  ashen  pallor  of  hate  succeeded  it.  It  was  not 
her  house :  she  was  here  on  sufferance  only.  Easy  and 
indulgent  as  Dr.  Kinnard  had  been  in  most  household  mat 
ters,  she  knew  it  would  not  be  wisdom  to  tr}r  him  too  far. 
If  she  were  dependent  upon  him,  he  would  think  some  time 
before  he  could  summon  sufficient  decision  to  turn  her  out 
homeless  :  but  she  had  not  even  that  claim  on  him,  and 
she  meant  to  stay.  Aggrieved  she  was  by  the  fact  of  this 
second  wife  ;  but  her  duty  to  her  poor  sister's  children  gave 
her  courage  to  surmount  any  unpleasantness. 

"  Very  well,"  she  returned  with  a  bitter  emphasis.  "  I 
can  never  forget  that  Maud's  mother  chose  every  article 
there ;  that  it  will  always  have  a  peculiar  remembrance 
for  her.  I  will  pack  them  safely  in  the  garret." 

The  doctor  winced  a  little  ;  yet  in  his  secret  heart  he  felt 
relieved.  That  furniture  had  been  the  bane  of  his  life  ; 
and  he  was  glad  to  get  rid  of  it  with  no  greater  fuss.  It 
did  seem  rather  disgraceful  that  every  reminder  of  his 
first  wife  should  be  stored  in  a  garret ;  and  he  was  half 
ashamed  for  the  moment.  Yet  it  was  a  fact  that  he  was 
obliged  to  face  and  abide  by :  there  could  be  no  inmic- 


122  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

diate  softening  of  it.  The  world  at  large,  propriety,  and 
even  his  sister-in-law,  could  not  justly  complain  of  any 
disrespect  he  had  shown  to  Mary  Grove's  memory. 
As  for  that  rubbishy,  faded  red  furniture,  he  could  not 
get  up  any  warm  sentiment  over  it. 

Nelly  sat  there  with  a  burning  face  and  beating  heart, 
thinking  it  hard  to  be  crowded  out  of  love  and  remem 
brance  when  one  had  come  to  dust  and  daisies.  But  Mrs. 
Kinnard  broke  the  awkward  silence  by  saying,  — 

"  Barton,  have  you  thought  how  much  this  is  all  to 
cost?  A  man  at  your  time  of  life,  and  with  a  family 
around  him,  ought  to  consider  a  little." 

"  I  have  considered,"  very  briefly;  for  the  end  of  his 
patience  was  almost  reached.  "  If  I  should  happen  to 
ruin  myself  by  this  experiment,  the  children  will  not  be 
left  penniless.  As  for  my  wife,  if  we  have  to  be  sold  out 
by  the  sheriff,  she  and  I  will  try  love  in  a  cottage  with  a 
crust  and  water,  and  —  peace. — Now,  Nelly,"  and  he 
rose,  "  you  will  not  have  a  great  deal  of  spare  time.  I 
want  to  start  pretty  early ;  for  I  have  a  long  list  of 
morning-calls  before  we  get  to  Melcombe.  Business 
seems  to  be  rather  thriving.  I  am  not  quite  on  the  verge 
of  bankruptcy. " 

"  Barton  has  certainly  lost  his  senses  !  "  And  Mrs.  Kin 
nard  began  to  cry  when  they  were  within  a  safe  distance 
for  such  a  proceeding.  ' '  Set  a  beggar  on  horseback  !  A 
poor  minister's  daughter,  and  nothing  good  enough  for 
her  !  And  I  never  could  endure  that  Mrs.  Glyndon." 

' '  A  very  underbred  and  superficial  woman.  But,  my 
dear  Mrs.  Kinnard,  we  may  be  thankful  to  be  allowed  to 
stay  on  any  terms.  If  it  were  not  for  my  poor  sister's 
children,  I  should  go  as  soon  as  I  could  pack  up  my 
clothes." 

"  But  he  is  all  the  near  relative  I  have  now;  and  it 
would  be  very  hard  to  be  separated  from  my  own  son. 
Though  I  am  not  beholden  to  him.  I  have  enough  of  my 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  123 

own ;  and  I  am  resolved  that  it  shall  go  to  poor  Mary's 
children,  when  I  am  done  with  it.  Not  a  penny  shall 
they  have  to  waste  on  their  foolery,"  she  flung  out 
vindictively. 

u  I  do  think  it  your  duty,"  said  Miss  Grove.  "  These 
children  are  dearer  to  you  than  any  others  can  ever  be. 
It  is  fortunate  there  is  some  little  provision  for  them." 

"If  he  could  have  chosen  sensibty,  as  he  did  at  first. 
I  can  never  forgive  them  for  dragging  him  into  such  an 
imprudent  marriage !  " 

Maud  sat  drinking  in  every  word.  She  had  quite  too 
much  of  that  narrow-minded,  precocious  wisdom,  and, 
even  thus  early,  felt  elated  at  the  thought  of  her  own  for 
tune.  Bertie,  not  being  interested  in  this  strife  of  tongues, 
had  gone  around  to  his  father's  place,  and  was  regaling 
himself  with  the  second  cup  of  coffee,  which  the  doctor 
had  left  untasted  ;  and  had  swallowed  it  nearly  all  before 
he  was  discovered. 

' '  That  child  gets  worse  and  worse  every  day  !  ' '  de 
clared  Miss  Grove  as  she  snapped  his  ears  viciously.  "  If 
I  could  have  him  to  myself;  but  she  will  interfere,  and  she 
knows  no  more  about  bringing  up  children  than  a  cat. 
You'll  have  nothing  for  your  dinner  but  a  piece  of  dry 
bread,  Master  Herbert,  remember  that !  Go  straight  up 
stairs,  and  practise  your  music  one  hour. — Maud,  keep 
watch  of  him,  and  report  the  slightest  inattention." 

These  music  practices  were  a  sore  punishment  to  poor 
Bertie.  He  had  no  ear  and  no  love  for  music.  Every 
mistake  was  followed  by  a  rap  over  the  knuckles,  until  he 
had  come  to  hate  the  sight  of  a  piano. 

Nelly  put  her  room  in  order,  and  then  donned  one  of 
her  simple  gray  dresses  with  a  thoughtful  air. 

"  Barton,"  she  said,  when  they  were  comfortably  seated 
in  the  buggy,  "  I  want  you  to  tell  me  one  thing  truly. 
The  cottage  and  the  crust  have  no  terrors  for  me  ;  "  and 
she  smiled  amusedly.  "  I  have  never  been  at  all  rich.  I 


124  NELLY  KINTSTARD'S  KINGDOM. 

even  think  I  could  do  my  own  work,  and  enjoy  it,  if  the 
house  were  not  too  large.  Can  you  afford  all  this  "  — 

"  Tremendous  luxury  and  expense?"  and  he  laughed 
good-humoredly.  "Yes;  I  may  safely  say  that  I  can. 
You  are  my  wife,  Nelly ;  and  you  have  a  right  to  know 
just  how  matters  stand  with  me,  —  if  you  care." 

"  I  certainly  do,"  she  made  answer. 

"  It  is  odd  ;  but  I  have  never  been  in  the  habit  of  ex 
plaining  my  own  affairs  to  any  extent.  I  can't  endure 
questioning,  as  you  have  no  doubt  discovered  ;  and  I  don't 
enjoy  many  comments.  But  you  are  a  wise  little  woman, 
and  have  hit  the  happy  medium  between  curiosity  and  in 
terest.  I  would  rather  tell  you,  for  another  reason.  My 
mother  has  reached  that  period  of  life  when  she  begins  to 
think  of  coming  to  want ;  "  and  he  smiled  humorously  out 
of  his  eyes.  "You  may  chance  to  hear  comments  that 
would  trouble  you,  if  you  did  not  know.  The  place  is 
clear.  I  am  owing  no  debts  ;  and  have  a  comfortable 
income,  —  three  thousand  or  so  a  year.  Not  a  rich 
man,  by  any  means ;  and  I  am  afraid  I  have  no  real 
ambition  to  be  one.  I  should  like  a  few  enjoyable  years 
before  I  die ;  but  the  happiness  that  I  want  is  not 
altogether  that  which  money  brings.  I  have  a  little 
beside,  for  a  rainy  day,  and  provision  made  when  death 
overtakes  me.  Can  we  not  jog  on  together,  and  enjoy 
our  daily  bread,  without  vexing  our  souls  about  the  iced 
fruit-cake  for  to-morrow  ? ' ' 

"  We  can  and  we  will,'.'  responded  Nelly  with  a  bright 
glow. 

"  Jane,  I  find,  manages  household  matters  much  better 
than  they  were  ever  administered  before.  That  is  one 
reason  why  I  have  not  allowed  an}'  general  interference. 
And  now  for  the  rest.  I  can  ampty  afford  the  few  hun 
dreds  this  alteration  will  cost ;  also  the  new  furniture, 
if  your  ideas  are  not  very  extravagant." 

"I  will  endeavor  to  moderate  them,"  she  said  with  a 
cunning  little  smile. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  125 

So  they  jogged  on  and  on, — past  knolls  of  maple,  birch, 
and  elm,  or  chestnuts,  now  in  brown  bloom,  evergreen 
coverts  that  were  shady  and  deep,  bits  and  flashes  of  the 
winding  river,  bits  and  flashes  of  the  blue  sky  overhead. 
Here  a  squirrel  ran  out ;  there  a  bird  sang,  or  a  great  waft 
of  odorous  sweetness  crossed  her  path,  blown  from  the 
countless  shrubs  and  flowers.  She  took  it  all  in,  —  the 
freshness,  the  abundance,  the  changeful  beauty,  and 
thanked  God  for  it,  for  the  chance  of  getting  away  from 
the  narrow  boundaries  of  care  and  fret. 

"  I  do  not  wonder  a  man's  world  is  broader  than  a 
woman's,"  she  said  presently:  "he  has  the  whole  wide 
out-of-doors." 

"  And  she  has  the  extra  ruffle  on  her  neighbor's  gown, 
and  the  new  pudding  with  one  more  egg  in  it,  dancing 
continually  before  her  vision.  I  wish  I  could  persuade 
some  of  these  poor  tired  mothers  to  put  a  clean  calico 
dress  upon  their  children,  and  go  out  to  the  woods  for  a 
whole  long  day.  John  could  get  his  own  dinner  for  once. 
There  are  so  many  senseless  things  in  the  world ;  and  it 
is  often  quite  useless  to  doctor  bodies,  when  the  disease  is 
in  the  mind." 

And  so  chatting  off  and  on,  bits  of  talks  laid  between- 
the  thought  and  the  enjoyment,  remembered  afterward 
like  the  scent  of  sweet-clover  laid  among  linen.  Now  and 
then  she  held  the  reins,  while  he  went  in  for  a  call,  and 
gave  him  a  sweet  smile  of  welcome  as  he  came  out.  She 
was  so  companionable,  that  was  it,  —  not  merely  the  lov 
ing,  or  the  being  his  wife,  but  that  peculiar  adaptiveness 
so  delightful  when  one  does  meet  with  it. 

He  was  loath  to  leave  her  at  Mrs.  Glyndon's  after  dinner ; 
but  he  made  a  little  jest  of  it,  and  went  away.  And  there 
she  was  in  an  enchanted  house,  with  a  woman  who  had 
been  blest  with  nearly  all  of  this  world's  gifts,  —  health, 
wealth,  beauty,  taste,  education,  refinement,  and,  in  a 
certain  wa}r,  genius ;  a  fascinating  woman,  moreover, 
11* 


126  NELLY  KINNAKD'S   KINGDOM. 

who  had  travelled  and  enjoyed,  who  was  witty,  satirical, 
daring,  and  sweet  enough  when  she  took  fancies,  as  she 
had  to  Dr.  Kinnard's  young  wife. 

She  questioned  her  a  little  about  home-matters,  deli 
cately,  it  must  be  confessed ;  and  was  rather  free  in  her 
comments  upon  Miss  Grove.  Nelly  felt  half  inclined  to 
make  a  friend  and  confidante  of  her ;  and  yet  she  shrank 
from  admitting  any  family  grievance  outside  the  walls  of 
home. 

When  they  returned,  they  found  the  parlor  despoiled, 
and  the  shutters  thrown  wide  open.  Everybody  was  quiet 
and  sullen,  and  chilly  as  a  November  morning. 

And  the  next  day  Mr.  Bailey  came  over  again,  and 
plans  were  redrawn  for  porch  and  extension.  Work  was 
to  be  commenced  immediately.  Madame  Kinnard  grum 
bled  about  the  expense,  and  fretted  about  her  window, 
and  wondered  if  there  would  be  room  for  anybody  in  the 
house  presently.  Miss  Grove  said  nothing  about  going 
away.  The  doctor  went  to  Wachusett,  and  brought  home 
with  him  stately  little  Queen  Bess,  as  he  called  her,  and 
Gertrude,  who  had  not  yet  given  up  romping.  Nelly's 
phaeton  was  in  constant  requisition ;  and  Bertie  was 
charmed  and  won  by  the  girl  who  could  climb  trees,  jump 
ditches,  and  even  waded  in  the  brook. 

' '  A  horrid  hoiden  ! ' '  declared  Maud  to  her  few  select 
friends,  while  Dr.  Kinnard  longed  to  transfer  the  glowing 
pink  cheeks,  laughing  healthful  eyes,  and  round,  supple 
figure  to  his  own  prim,  stiff  little  daughter,  who  was  so 
flounced  and  puffed  and  ribboned,  that  she  looked  like  a 
French  wax  doll  in  a  fancy-store.  Often  he  wondered 
how  he  could  best  place  her  in  the  care  of  her  sensible 
young  stepmother. 

The  porch  was  completed ;  and  even  Mother  Kinnard 
admitted  it  to  be  a  great  improvement.  There  was  still 
one  pleasant  west  window  left,  and  the  extension  was 
really  quite  a  room ;  one  corner  being  left  for  a  comforta- 


NELLY  KLNNARD'S  KINGDOM.  127 

ble  chair  and  workstand,  the  rest  shelved  prettily,  the 
wood-work  being  held  up  by  tasteful  iron  brackets. 
Already  it  presented  a  homelike  appearance. 

Nelly  had  made  one  stipulation  about  the  furniture. 

"Let  it  be  neat  and  pretty,"  she  said,  "but  not  ex 
pensive  ;  something  we  can  all  enjoy,  and  that  will  not 
bring  Bertie  into  punishment  if  he  should  chance  to 
climb  on  it ;  for  I  think  Bertie  is  slowly  being  given  over 
to  my  tender  mercies." 

It  was  too  true.  When  Miss  Grove  was  informed  that 
the  doctor  had  resolved  to  send  Bertie  to  school  in  the 
village  as  soon  as  the  fall  term  commenced,  her  anger 
was  deep,  not  loud.  It  seemed  as  if  she  took  a  malicious 
pleasure  in  having  the  child  positively  disagreeable  to  his 
stepmother. 

The  crowning  point  of  all  delight  to  Nelly  had  been  a 
new  piano. 

"  It  seems  as  if  I  was  just  beginning  to  live,"  Nelly 
said  to  her  own  dear  mother.  "  I  am  getting  fitted  into 
my  place,  and  trying  to  make  it  a  centre  of  pleasure  :  if 
I  can  only  be  wise  and  patient." 

"  One  doesn't  get  fitted  instantly  ;  and  after  that  is  the 
becoming  settled  and  easy  and  familiar  ;  and  then  the 
bits  of  love,  and  bits  of  work,  the  flowers  to  gather,  and 
the  flowers  that  one  must  let  seed  for  next  year's  growing. 
A  little  kingdom  —  every  household  is  that  —  to  render  it 
fitter  for  the  great  kingdom ;  to  shape  and  garnish  and 
color  with  good  words  and  works,  so  that  there  may  be  a 
great  joy  when  the  other  household  is  entered  upon.  It 
comes  with  time.  None  of  us  get  finished  and  furnished 
in  a  few  weeks." 

No.  All  this  was  a  type  of  something  greater.  Lessons 
to  be  learned  every  da}r,  blurred  and  crooked  writing  to  be 
gone  over,  until  the  angel  of  the  Lord  turned  the  clean 
white  page  in  the  other  country.  She  had  only  gone  a 
little  distance  in  this,  —  the  kingdom  of  Here  and  Now, 
through  which  we  must  all  make  our  way. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"  Still,  when  we  purpose  to  enjoy  ourselves, 
To  try  our  valor,  fortune  sends  a  foe  ; 
To  try  our  equanimity,  a  friend."  —  GOETHE. 

Six  months  had  come  and  gone  since  Nelly  Kinnard 
had  said  her  bridal  vows  in  the  pretty  old  parish  church 
of  her  childhood.  At  Edgerly  there  was  one  old,  sleepy 
church,  and  a  new  and  rather  struggling  chapel.  It  had 
proved  a  source  of  mortification  to  Miss  Grove  that  Mrs. 
Kinnard  had  elected  to  cast  in  her  lot  with  this  poor 
interest.  What  could  attract  a  person  of  any  taste  and 
culture  ? 

"  I  must  say,"  answered  Nelly  pleasantly,  "  that  I 
like  Mr.  Dudley  ever  so  much  better  than  Dr.  Henderson. 
He  is  so  thoroughly  in  earnest  with  his  work,  that  it 
inspires  one  to  come  to  his  aid.  And  where  one  is  needed 
urgently,  always  seems  to  me  the  proper  place." 

"  But  there  is  so  much  in  desirable  church  associa 
tions,  especially  in  country-places.  One's  position  is 
established  by  the  society  one  is  known  to  keep,  and 
judged  too.  I  regret  there  should  be  any  division  in 
the  family  in  such  matters.  I  think  it  sets  a  very  bad 
example  before  children ;  but  I  must  insist  upon  my 
sister's  children  being  brought  up  in  her  faith,  since  the 
doctor  is  not  a  member  an}- where." 

Her  faith?     Alas  !  it  had  not  been  much  of  an}*  thing, 

except  to  go  to  church  on  a  pleasant  Sunday,  when  she 

had  some  elegant  new  garments ;  and  then  she  found  the 

sermon  tiresome,  the  prayers  too  long,  and  the  singing 

123 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  129 

miserably  poor.  But  Miss  Grove  had  allied  herself  with 
the  most  aristocratic  church  in  Edgerly,  —  a  society  com 
posed  largely  of  "  good  old  families,"  who  scarcely  con 
descended  to  look  at  their  neighbors,  the  mill-owners  and 
factory-masters,  to  say  nothing  of  the  under-strata,  — 
workers,  whom  they  held  in  supreme  contempt. 

Nelly  had  felt  a  little  delicate,  at  first,  about  the  divis 
ion  in  religious  matters,  —  that  of  belonging  to  different 
denominations. 

"  Go  just  where  you.  like,"  said  the  doctor.  "  I  do 
not  attend  much,  anyhow ;  but  I'll  accompany  yon  when 
I  can.  And,  if  you  like  the  chapel  best,  why,  take  that, 
then.  Many  of  my  poor  patients  belong  there  ;  and  I 
must  sa}r,  if  ever  there  was  an  earnest,  self-denying  man, 
—  a  man  who  studied  the  real  good  of  his  fellow-crea 
tures,  body  and  soul,  —  Dudley  is  that  one.  And  there 
are  many  cases,  —  more,  perhaps,  than  ministers  would 
care  to  acknowledge,  —  where  you  can  only  get  at  a  man's 
soul  through  his  body.  How  much  of  religion,  I  wonder, 
is  made  up  of  comfortable  incomes,  pleasant  homes,  good 
clothes,  and  nothing  special  to  worry  one?  Put  some  of 
these  simpering  saints  in  the  place  of  poor  Jim  Lane's 
wife,  with  her  drunken  husband,  her  five  little  children, 
and  her  daily  toil  of  washing  and  ironing  to  get  them 
bread,  and  see  how  patient,  how  trusting,  how  resigned  to 
God's  will,  they  would  be.  And  she  brings  her  little  gift 
weekly,  Dudley  tells  me  ;  saves  it  out  of  her  hard-earned 
wages.  I  declare,  it  shames  us  eas3'-going  people.  There, 
my  dear,  I  have  preached  you  quite  a  sermon ;  but  the 
upshot  of  it  is,  if  you  like  to  go  there,  and  can  help  them 
along  in  any  way,  never  mind  Aunt  Adelaide." 

She  remembered  the  lessons  inculcated  in  her  girlhood  : 
she  could  even  look  back  and  see  how  her  dear  father  had 
labored  to  break  down  these  petty  social  distinctions,  and 
that,  year  by  }*ear,  the  rich  and  poor  had  come  nearer  to 
each  other.  The}"  did  not  turn  out  in  a  mass,  and  clamor 


130  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

for  entrance  at  rich  people's  parties,  as  Mrs.  Fairlie  had 
so  much  dreaded  that  they  would,  unless  kept  in  their 
place. 

In  spite  of  what  Miss  Grove  termed  "her  unfortunate 
church  associations,"  3Toung  Mrs.  Kinnard  had  been  quite 
a  social  success.  She  was  undeniabl}7  stylish,  even  in  her 
plainest  dressing.  Her  slender,  elegant  figure  ;  her  realty 
lovely  face,  in  its  3'outh  and  brightness  ;  and  the  something 
in  her  voice,  which  was,  I  think,  the  cheerful  ring  -r  the 
unaffected  tone  of  warmth  and  interest,  —  attracted  strong 
ly.  People  who  had  made  formal  calls  once  or  twice  a 
year  at  the  doctor's  began  to  drop  in  oftener.  Others  — 
good-hearted,  social  people,  without  much  cultivation,  but 
who  adored  him  for  saving,  -as  they  always  believed, 
the  life  of  a  dear  child,  or  wife,  or  husband  —  were  de 
lighted  to  come,  from  that  overflowing  sense  of  gratitude, 
and  said  afterwards,  "  I  had  such  a  delightful  time ! 
Mrs.  Kinnard  is  as  lovely  as  she  can  be.  Why,  I  almost 
felt  as  if  she  was  some  relation  ;  so  different  from  Miss 
Grove  !  If  there  ever  was  an  out-and-out  old  maid,  she's 
one.  I  do  wonder  how  they  all  get  along  ;  but  the  doctor's 
just  as  happy  as  he  can  be.  You  can  see  that  in  his 
face." 

Which  was  true  enough.  He  did  not  grow  young  or 
radiant :  he  had  too  many  grave  cares  for  that,  too 
great  a  responsibility  of  life  and  death,  and  carried  about 
with  him  a  continual  burthen  of  others'  sorrows  and  per 
plexities.  For  of  all  people,  perhaps,  a  physician  feels  this 
most  keenly,  —  the  undertow  of  want  or  care  or  unhappi- 
ness  that  keeps  dragging  back  his  patient,  and  too  often 
sets  at  nought  the  finest  skill,  at  last,  perhaps,  drifting 
the  poor  being  out  beyond  the  reach  of  help.  His  whole 
heart  and  soul  were  in  his  profession  :  in  fact,  for  3*ears  it 
had  been  his  solace,  and  taken  the  best  of  his  life  and 
interest.  The  new  influence  softened  and  mellowed. 
Sometimes,  in  secret,  he  called  himself  an  old  fool,  and 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  131 

tried  to  be  a  little  cold  or  pre-occupied  ;  but  the  beseech 
ing  eyes  thawed  the  deceitful  crust,  that  was  not  ice  at 
all,  but  only  a  shameful  make-believe. 

The  alteration  in  the  house  became  a  subject  of  neigh 
borhood  comment  and  congratulation.  Nelly  opened  the 
parlor-windows  every  morning,  and  let  in  a  cheerful,  soft- 
toned  light  here,  and  a  long  arrowy  ray  of  sunshine  there, 
that  gave  it  an  inviting  look,  without  any  glare.  She  was 
an  artist  by  perception.  She  could  have  arranged  all  the 
accessories  of  a  picture,  though  the  genius  to  paint  it  was 
not  hers.  Fan  had  seemed  to  inherit  that  mother-gift. 
But  Nelty's  chairs  were  never  ranged  stiff  against  the  wall ; 
rather  in  dainty  groups  of  twos  and  threes,  just  as  if  a 
social  part}r  sat  there  a  moment  ago,  chatting.  Vases  of 
beautiful  grasses  and  fern-leaves,  and  some  brilliant 
autumn  trophies,  peeped  out  here  and  there,  instead  of 
the  ugly,  expensive  things  that  had  adorned  it  formerly. 
Its  furnishing  had  not  cost  half  that  "  my  poor,  dear 
sister"  had  spent;  and  the  doctor  felt  quite  at  home, 
lounging  on  the  sofa,  while  Nelly  played  and  sang. 

She  had  not  left  her  impress  quite  so  strongly  on  the 
so-called  sitting-room.  Mother  Kinnard  had  a  way  of 
re- arranging.  She  would  straighten  out  chairs,  pile  up 
books,  push  the  workstand  into  some  corner,  and,  not 
infrequently,  set  the  vase  of  flowers  on  the  mantle-piece, 
after  Nelly  had  placed  it  on  the  centre-table.  But  the 
flower-corner  was  complete.  Nelly  had  stocked  it  quite 
to  her  fane}',  with  Mat  for  aide-de-camp.  The  man  had  a 
great  passion  for  flowers,  and  had  picked  up  a  little  knowl 
edge,  here  and  there,  of  their  needs  and  culture.  But 
there  had  never  been  any  place  to  keep  them  in  the 
winter :  so  he  saw  them  all  die  with  a  sad  heart  at  the 
touch  of  autumn  frosts ;  and,  when  the  small  greenhouse 
was  begun,  his  delight  was  boundless. 

"  You  have  won  Mat's  heart,"  declared  the  doctor. 
"  I  hardly  know  whether  to  be  jealous  or  not.  I'm 


132  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

afraid  he  will  be  petitioning  for  a  greenhouse  in  good 
earnest  presently." 

They  had  discussed  it  a  little  between  them :  so  Nelly 
smiled. 

"  I  don't  believe  but  what  I  could  build  one,  another 
summer,  at  a  small  expense,"  Mat  had  said,  tangling  up 
his  curly  chestnut  hair.  "  There'd  be  the  heating,  to  be 
sure  ;  and  I  don't  just  know  "  — 

"  You  might  be  studying  up  on  the  subject,  Mat.  I 
have  several  books  that  you  may  look  over  at  your 
leisure.  And  we  will  see  how  this  succeeds." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  I'm  sure.  I've  always  had  a  han- 
kerin'  after  such  things.  I  had  a  little  one  once,  ma'am  — 
maybe  the  doctor  told  you?  and  she  used  to  be  forever 
bringin'  in  little  nosegays,  if  'twas  no  more  than  a  clover- 
head  and  a  buttercup,  —  any  thing  that  had  a  little  color 
in  it.  I  never  see  a  bit  of  clover,  but  her  eyes  seem  to 
look  out  of  it  at  me.  I  wasn't  caring  much  for  such 
simple  things  before ;  but  they  seem  so  near  since  she 
has  gone  !  ' ' 

Ferns  had  been  brought  in  from  the  woods,  and  a  great 
box  filled.  Then  there  were  geraniums,  monthly  roses, 
carnation-pinks,  and  flowering  vines  put  out  in  corners. 
Odd  plants,  too,  that  one  and  another  of  the  neighbors 
sent  in,  and  now  that  very  little  was  left  out  of  doors, 
save  chrysanthemums,  the  bright  bower  was  a  delight 
to  Nelly,  and  gave  her  bloom  enough  for  some  parlor- 
bouquets,  or  a  few  to  send  to  a  sick  patient. 

But,  as  Mat  had  taken  a  liking  to  the  mistress  for  her 
bonn}r  face  and  pleasant  ways,  Jane's  prejudice  had 
grown  more  bitter  and  unreasonable.  That  she  was 
young  ;  that  she  "  knew  nothing  about  housekeeping,  you 
may  be  sure,  girls  never  do  now-a-days  ;  "  that  she  put 
on  airs  ;  that  she  had  the'  doctor  "  completely  under  her 
thumb  "  — were  a  few  of  Jane's  grievances  ;  for  Jane  had 
taken  great  pride  that  the  doctor  could  not  be  ruled  by 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  133 

womenkind,  and  was  not  to  be  caught  by  the  best  of 
them.  He  had  been  caught.  He  allowed  his  wife  privi 
leges  in  the  office  and  the  ' '  den ' '  that  were  unheard  of 
before.  He  had  turned  out  the  first  wife's  furniture  to 
make  room  for  her  nonsense  and  flummery.  Jane  was 
severely  and  intensely  practical.  She  would  have  had 
nothing  in  the  world  but  what  was  useful ;  and  she  would 
have  shut  up  the  best  of  that  in  the  parlor,  to  be  dusted 
out  once  a  week,  and  swept  on  rare  occasions.  One 
da}',  —  daring  innovation  !  —  Nelly  had  set  an  obnoxious 
vase  of  flowers  on  the  dining-table.  There  had  been  two 
brackets  put  up  in  the  hall,  on  which  they  were  generally 
kept.  Jane  caught  it  up  indignantly,  and  restored  it  to 
its  usual  place. 

Nell}'  came  in  a  moment  afterward.  She  had  seen  the 
movement  indistinctly  from  the  sitting-room. 

"  Jane,"  she  said  in  a  quiet  tone,  "  will  you  please  put 
that  vase  back  on  the  table?  I  desire  to  have  it  there." 

"It's  only  in  the  way,"  snapped  Jane,  going  steadily 
about  her  business. 

"  That,  I  think,  is  my  affair,  as  it  is  my  table  ;  "  and 
the  voice  kept  its  even,  cheerful  tenor.  "  You  will  oblige 
me  by  restoring  it  to  its  place." 

Jane  had  not  the  courage  to  actually  disobey  in  so 
trifling  a  matter.  It  was  not  in  her  department,  and 
could  in  no  wise  interfere  with  her  work  or  her  comfort. 
Something  stronger  than  her  own  angry  reasoning  im 
pelled  her  ;  but  it  came  down  with  a  thump  that  splashed 
the  water,  and  shook  off  some  of  the  leaves. 

"  If  you  had  let  it  be  at  first,  we  should  not  have  had 
this  litter,"  said  her  mistress. 

Jane  slammed  the  door.  For  days  afterward,  she 
snapped,  instead  of  speaking  like  a  reasonable  woman. 
Even  the  doctor  remarked  it. 

"  Jane  has  a  great  deal  to  do,"  said  Miss  Grove  ;  "  and 
the  regular  habits  of  the  family  have  been  so  broken  up, 


134  NELLY  KTNNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

that  it  makes  twice  the  work.  And  servants,  I  suppose, 
have  much  the  same  feelings  and  tempers  that  other  peo 
ple  consider  their  rights." 

"  It  would  be  better  to  devote  half  a  day  to  the  tan 
trum,  and  get  over  it;"  and  the  odd  twinkle  gleamed  .in 
the  doctor's  eye.  "  I  think  I  can  understand  how  a  person 
can  and  does  get  fearfully  angry ;  but  it  always  seemed  so 
small  and  narrow  to  me  to  be  venting  one's  spite  for  days 
iipon  all  sorts  of  inoffending  objects.  Jane  is  not  as  good 
tempered  as  she  used  to  be  ;  and,  at  her  best,  she  is  rather 
trying.  But  yesterday  Mat  was  complaining  of  her." 

"It  is  hardly  wisdom  to  pay  attention  to  servants' 
tales,"  returned  Miss  Grove  with  asperity. 

"  I  desire  to  have  every  one  well  treated  in  my  house," 
was  the  doctor's  pointed  rejoinder. 

And  so  the  daring  innovation  of  having  flowers  on  the 
table  at  meal-times  stood  its  ground  in  spite  of  Miss 
Grove's  covert  sneers,  and  Mother  Kinnard's  complaints. 
Nelly  took  them  off  before  the  table  was  cleared  ;  so  that 
Jane  should  have  no  excuse  for  carelessly  breaking  the 
vase.  The  former  had  none  of  the  fine  sense  of  beauty 
in  her  soul.  What  society,  or  "our  set,"  ordained,  was 
fit  and  proper :  to  swerve  a  hair'  s-breadth  was  out  of 
taste.  Her  sphere  of  thought  had  grown  narrower  with 
every  year,  as  her  circle  had  grown  smaller.  Mrs. 
Kinnard  had  an  old  person's  dislike  of  things  and  ways 
which  she  had  not  been  accustomed  all  her  life,  or  that 
were  not  brought  directly  from  the  city.  If  Barton 
only  had  married  Adelaide,  how  smoothly  matters  would 
have  gone ! 

Bertie  was  still  a  bone  of  contention  under  the  surface. 
Nelly  wished  sometimes,  in  moments  of  vexation,  that 
they  would  do  or  say  the  same  things  in  the  doctor's 
presence ;  but  her  enemies  were  of  the  wary  kind,  and 
she  was  much  too  proud  for  complaint,  even  if  she  could 
have  thought  it  right.  The  new  liberty  emboldened  the 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  135 

child  greatly,  like  all  children  wn*o  have  been  completely 
under  the  domination  of  a  strong  will.  He  was  not  espe 
cially  bright  or  companionable :  in  fact,  only  Nelly,  so 
used  to  children,  realized  the  darkness  and  vacancy  in  the 
poor  child's  soul ;  while  in  all  matters  acquired  through 
study,  or  any  process  of  memory,  he  was  far  in  advance 
of  most  children  of  his  age.  He  took  his  stepmother's 
overtures  of  friendliness  in  a  wondering  manner,  as  if 
he  could  not  quite  fathom  them,  and  half  suspected 
some  ulterior  motive  ;  but,  with  a  sort  of  animal  instinct, 
he  was  fascinated  by  her  magnetic  voice,  the  glance  of 
her  dark,  soulful  eyes,  the  touch  of  her  soft  hand ;  and 
when  he  began  fairly  to  understand  that  he,  too,  had  a 
claim  upon  her,  he  was  quite  inclined  to  make  it  para 
mount  and  troublesome.  He  brought  her  the  largest  and 
showiest  flowers  for  her  hair,  and  could  hardly  be  made 
to  understand  why  they  were  not  suitable.  If  he  stood 
by  her,  his  feet  always  became  entangled  in  her  dress, 
and  a  stumble  would  be  the  result :  if  he  sat  by  her, 
he  managed  to  rumple  every  thing  within  his  reach,  and 
sometimes  she  felt  that  he  was  a  heavy  burthen. 

This  preference  and  awakening  of  an  unreasoning 
affection  stirred  a  passion  of  jealousy  in  Miss  Grove's 
soul.  That  any  child  of  her  "  poor  dead  sister's,"  so 
wronged  by  having  a  young  and  pretty  stepmother 
appointed  over  it,  should  hug  its  chain,  and  caress  its 
jailer,  was  unendurable.  Her  claim  to  this  home  lay  in 
her  hold  on  the  children's  hearts ;  and  how  had  she 
striven  to  endear  herself  to  them?  Maud,  it  is  true,  had 
much  in  common  with  her  aunt ;  but,  when  Bertie  grew 
out  of  authority,  he  grew  out  of  every  thing. 

She  made  one  effort  to  persuade  Dr.  Kinnard  to  give 
up  the  school-plan,  but  found  him  immovable. 

"  You  will  have  enough  to  do  with  Maud's  educa 
tion,"  he  said  briefly.  "  The  boy  wants  to  be  with  other 
boys." 


136  IJTELLY  KJNNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  I  warn  you  that  he  will  not  learn  half  as  much.  I 
have  taken  a  great  deal  of  pains  with  these  children  of  my 
'  poor  dear  sister.'  I  cannot,  of  course,  expect  them  to 
be  as  dear  to  an}*-  one  else.  And,  since  they  are  to  have 
something  of  their  own,  it  is  necessary  that  they  should 
be  trained  to  fill  their  proper  position,"  said  Miss  Grove 
with  a  kind  of  injured  dignity. 

' '  Very  few  children  are  any  the  better  for  being  brought 
up  with  money  expectations,"  returned  the  doctor  impa- 
tierrtby.  "  I  do  not  want  any  such  foolish  idea  put  into 
Bertie's  head.  He  must  take  his  chance  with  other 
boys." 

"As  I  said,  I  do  not  expect  any  one  to  be  as  much 
interested  in  their  welfare  as  I  am ' '  — 

"That  is  all  pure  nonsense,  Adelaide,"  interrupted  the 
doctor,  this  time  angrily.  "  They  are  my  children,  you 
will  please  remember ;  and,  if  I  have  little  of  a  father's 
foolish  vanity,  no  one  shall  question  my  fatherly  interest 
or  authority." 

She  knew  she  had  gone  far  enough  then  :  so  she  wisely 
let  the  subject  drop.  But  she  managed  to  work  upon 
Bertie's  fears. 

"Will  the  teacher  whip  me  a  great  deal?"  Bertie 
asked  his  new  mamma  one  day. 

"He  will  not  whip  you  at  all,  Bertie,  unless  you  are 
very,  very  naughty."  * 

"  But  I  am  always  bad,"  the  child  returned  in  a  most 
matter-of-fact  way.  "  Aunt  Adelaide  says  so." 

"  Not  always,  I  think.  You  obey  papa  and  me  pretty 
well." 

' '  But  you  never  give  me  any  hard  things  to  do,  and 
you  take  me  out  driving,  and  never  send  me  away  from 
the  table.  You  are  good,  although  Aunt  Adelaide  says 
you  are  not." 

Nelly  flushed  indignantty.  "  Bertie,"  and  her  tone  was 
very  decisive,  "you  must  not  repeat  to  me  what  Aunt 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  137 

Adelaide  says.  If  you  do,  I  cannot  take  you  out  driv 
ing.  Remember  that,  will  you  ?  And  I  do  mean  to  be 
good  to  3*011,  and  love  you,  for  you  are  my  little  boy." 

"  Can  I  always  say  mamma  to  you?  "  he  asked  timidly. 

"Always."  Ah,  if  she  could  make  him  understand! 
If  she  could  have  him  alone  ;  but  the  conflicting  influences 
confused  his  brain,  so  little  used  to  reasoning. 

"  But  I  can't  to  Aunt  Adelaide.  She  makes  me  say, 
'  stepmother.'  " 

The  child  had  a  most  unfortunate  habit  of  frankness. 
The  only  redeeming  point  in  it  was,  that  he  was  not  a 
very  communicative  child,  and  somewhat  shy  of  stran 
gers.  Nelly  had  worked  hard  for  her  little  influence  over 
him. 

This  came  to  the  doctor's  attention  one  day. 

"  Adelaide,"  he  said  sharply,  "  when  you  speak  to  the 
children  of  Mrs.  Kinnard,  I  want  you  to  call  her  mamma, 
or  mother.  Stepmother  is  a  hateful  term  anyhow  ;  and  I 
will  not  have  it  used  in  my  house." 

"Can  I  help  what  the  world  says,  Barton?  If  you 
wanted  it  to  approximate  nearer  a  fact,  you  should  have 
married  an  older  woman.  The  relation  is  apparent  at  a 
glance.  And  people  will  call  things  by  their  true  names," 
with  a  somewhat  bitter  emphasis. 

"  I  married  to  suit  myself.  I  have  giving  the  children 
a  kind,  affectionate,  pleasant-tempered  mother;  and  I  will 
have  her  respected  as  such  in  this  house.  If  you,  or  any 
one,  try  to  widen  the  breach,  it  will  be  at  the  risk  of  my 
most  serious  displeasure." 

Maud  studiously  refrained  from  giving  Nelly  any  name 
while  in  her  presence ;  but  elsewhere  she  always  said, 
"  My  stepmother,"  with  a  kind  of  martyr-like  air;  and, 
when  she  and  Aunt  Adelaide  were  together,  they  used  no 
other  term.  Jane,  too,  had  been  rebuked  by  the  doctor  ; 
and  it  added  another  fagot  to  the  smouldering  embers  of 
her  dislike. 

12* 


138  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

So  far,  it  must  be  conceded,  Jane  had  held  her  way 
ro}'ally.  She  was  housekeeper  at  Dr.  Kinnard's ;  and 
woe  betide  the  unlucky  wight  who  dared  to  speak  of  her 
as  a  servant !  A  woman  came  in  on  Monday  to  help  with 
the  washing.  The  last  piece  must  be  up  by  three  o'clock, 
and  then  commenced  the  ironing  of  the  plain  clothes,  as 
they  were  taken  down  from  the  line.  There  was  cold 
meat  for  dinner ;  but  it  was  always  nice,  —  and  much  tart 
ness  until  the  ironing  was  finished.  After  that  Jane 
devoted  herself  heart  and  soul  to  cooking  until  Friday 
morning,  when  she  swept  the  house  through.  The  dust 
ing  could  be  done  by  each  individual  at  her  leisure.  In 
the  afternoon  came  scrubbing ;  and  on  Saturday  the  house 
was  like  a  new  pin.  She  was  proud  of  her  abilities ; 
and  they  were  of  the  old-fashioned,  severe  order.  Nelly 
accepted  her,  as  every  one  else  had,  though  she  managed 
to  make  a  few  alterations  in  the  rigid  rule.  When  the 
doctor  was  out  past  meal-time,  she  arranged  a  dainty 
table  in  the  "  den,"  which  was  certainly  outgrowing  its 
name,  and  taking  on  an  inviting  and  hospitable  appear 
ance.  She  brought  in  the  daring  innovation  first  on 
washing-day ;  and  Dr.  Kinnard  was  delighted  beyond 
measure.  To  be  sure,  Jane's  kitchen  was  large  and 
clean  :  there  were  two  or  three  be}'ond,  and  it  would  have 
answered  well  for  a  dining-room.  But  the  doctor  enjoyed 
the  cosey  meal  alone  with  his  wife  so  very  much,  that  he 
proposed  releasing  Jane  from  such  service  in  the  future. 
True,  there  were  many  little  snubs  and  discomforts  ;  but 
Nelly  took  them  patiently.  No  one  should  say  with  truth 
that  she  had  made  the  first  difficult}'  in  the  house. 

Every  one  except  Aunt  Adelaide  agreed  that  having 
Bertie  away  at  school  was  a  decided  success.  The  house 
was  so  much  quieter.  At  half-past  eight  some  one  was 
generally  read}'  to  take  him  to  the  village  ;  and,  as  he  fre 
quently  walked  home,  he  was  not  back  until  four.  He 
liked  it  too.  Truth  to  tell,  he  did  not  have  to  study  half 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

as  hard  as  under  his  aunt's  regime.  After  a  week  or 
two  Mr.  Herrick  had  said  to  the  doctor,  — 

"  Kinnard,  that  boy  of  yours  has  been  dreadfully 
crammed.  He  has  a  very  retentive  memory,  and  fair 
powers  of  application;  but  he  has  not  been  taught  to 
think,  or  to  depend  upon  himself.  I  shall  have  to  take 
quite  a  different  method  with  him,  and  he  may  seem  not 
to  improve  so  rapidly  ;  but  it  will  be  better  for  him  in  the 
end.  He  will  be  a*boy,  not  a  prodigy." 

"  Very  well,"  returned  the  doctor :  "  it  is  just  what  1 
want.  I  don't  delight  in  prodigies  myself." 

The  latent  brightness  in  Bertie,  repressed  by  his  aunt's 
rigidity  and  sternness,  cropped  out  now  and  then.  He 
grew  rougher  and  noisier :  he  even  had  the  temerity  to 
indulge  in  a  whistle  now  and  then.  Nelly  had  hard  work 
to  keep  him  within  bounds ;  for  Miss  Grove  seemed  to 
take  delight  in  bringing  out  his  worst  points.  If  they 
only  could  pull  together,  Nelly  thought  regretfully ;  but 
she  saw  with  pain,  that,  whatever  she  joined  in,  Miss 
Grove  would  not  only  leave,  but  throw  covert  obsta 
cles  in  her  way.  No  authority  in  the*  house  was  to  be 
shared. 

"  Mrs.  Kinnard  is  a  very  headstrong  and  self-willed 
young  person,  with  no  experience  whatever,"  Miss  Grove 
was  fond  of  explaining  to  her  friends.  "  I  can  plainly 
foresee  that  the  child  will  be  ruined.  When  he  becomes 
perfect!}'  unmanageable,  no  doubt  he  will  be  thrown  back 
upon  my  hands." 

Nelly  Kinnard  was  not  thinking  of  the  children,  as  she 
stood,  in  a  rather  abstracted  manner,  pinching  dead  leaves 
from  her  plants,  and  training  up  tender  shoots  that  showed 
a  disposition  to  go  astray.  That  morning  she  had  taken 
Bertie  to  school,  made  a  few  purchases  in  the  village ; 
and,  as  she  was  driving  slowly  homeward,  Mr.  Dudley 
had  overtaken  her. 

"  O  Mrs.  Kinnard !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  I  was  just  going 


140  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

out  to  see  you.  I  have  a  matter  of  importance  to  talk 
over." 

"  Very  well.  Will  you  take  a  little  drive  with  me,  and 
explain  it?  "  she  said  cordially. 

"Would  you  mind  driving  toward  Northrup's  Mill? 
There  is  a  sick  woman  I  must  see ;  and  the  morning  is 
glorious." 

"  With  pleasure." 

He  sprang  in,  and,  after  a  few  pleasant  comments  on 
various  matters,  launched  into  his  plan. 

"  What  I  want  is  something  to  bring  the  people  together 
socially.  We  had  a  Mite  Society  last  winter  ;  but  it  was 
given  over  into  the  hands  of  the  younger  members,  who, 
after  a  while,  did  not  care  to  go,  unless  they  could  have  a 
good  time.  Our  sewing-society  languished  also.  I  should 
like  to  unite  the  two,  and  mingle  the  young  and  the  elders 
together.  Now,  if  we  could  have  a  sewing-society  meet, 
sa}',  once  a  month,  in  the  afternoon,  to  make  up  garments 
for  the  poor,  or  perhaps  fancy  articles,  with  a  simple 
tea,  and  gentlemen  coming  in  the  evening,  and  young 
people  who  might  not  be  able  to  give  the  whole  afternoon. 
We  could  have  conversation  and  music,  and  whatever 
other  diversions  were  thought  best;"  and  he  glanced  at 
her  questioningly. 

"  Why,  I  think  it  an  admirable  idea.  I  do  not  see 
that  you  need  any  help  in  the  plan ;  "  and  she  smiled. 

"  I  am  glad  it  meets  your  approval.  You  see,  neither 
young  nor  old  could  fancy  themselves  justified  in  staj'ing 
away.  And  now  what  I  want  is  some  one  to  take  hold 
of  it  with  a  vim,  and  make  it  a  success.  I  would  have 
them  meet  first  at  the  rectory,  but  I  have  no  wife  to  enter 
into  the  scheme  ;  and,  though  Mrs.  Chase  is  an  excellent 
housekeeper,  I  am  quite  afraid  this  would  be  bej'ond  her. 
She  could  do  every  thing  perfectly  but  the  entertaining ; 
and  that  would  frighten  her  to  death.  So  much  depends 
upon  the  manner  in  which  a  plan  blossoms  out !  "  he  con 
tinued  anxiously. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  141 

"  Indeed  it  does,"  said  Nelly  warmly. 

"And  that  brings  me  to  the  point  of  my  errand.  I 
want  to  persuade  you  to  undertake  it.  You  have  the 
prestige  of  being  a  clergyman's  daughter,  and  know  how 
these  matters  ought  to  be  managed.  Then  you  are  Dr. 
Kinnard's  wife,  and  occupy  that  broad,  middle-ground 
position,  not  unlike  that  of  a  clergyman's  household. 
Neither  highest  nor  lowest  would  be  afraid  to  come. 
Then  I  think  you  could  make  it  a  success.  Seventeenthly 
and  lastly,  — and  this  is  an  important  part,"  glancing  at 
her  with  a  piquant  smile,  —  "I  fancy  you  would  have  the 
courage  to  give  the  assembled  multitude  a  plain  tea. 
You  would  not  be  afraid  of  being  called  '  stingy  ; ' ' '  and 
he  laughed.  "  If  Mrs.  Dr.  Kinnard  gave  people  sandwiches 
and  one  kind  of  cake,  with  perhaps  a  plate  of  grapes  or 
apples,  Mrs.  Newbury  or  Mrs.  Thornton  might  follow  in 
such  sensible  footsteps.  I  have  thought  of  seven  people 
who  could  have  this  entertainment ;  and  that  will  take  us 
quite  along.  Now  have  I  made  a  bad  beginning?  " 

"  I  should  like  very  much  to  do  it,"  said  Nelly  frankly. 
"  I  will  consult  the  doctor;"  and  then  she  thought  of 
the  home-arrangements  that  could  not  be  explained. 

"But  I  had  his  permission  first  for  consulting  you," 
Mr.  Dudley  announced  with  an  expression  of  amusement. 

"  Then  you  may  consider  it  settled.  I  have  been 
thinking,  ever  since  I  came  to  Edgerly,  that  there  ought 
to  be  some  attractive  social  life  in  the  church." 

"  We  did  quite  well  last  winter ;  but  I  felt  that  I  wanted 
it  placed  on  a  new  basis.  If  you  will  only  help  me,"  he 
said  entreatingly. 

"  Begin  with  a  moderate  estimate  of  my  abilities,"  she 
returned  gayly .  ' '  I  am  a  stranger,  for  one  thing,  a  new 
comer  ;  and  my  ways  may  not  be  as  attractive  as  you 
think." 

V 

"  I  am  quite  willing  to  risk  that." 

Then  they  went  on  to  discuss  the  minor  points,  —  the 


142  NELLY  KENNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

hard  work  it  had  been  with  this  small  and  poor  interest, 
since  most  of  the  well-to-do  people  preferred  to  go  to  the 
wealthier  church.  They  arranged  their  plan  satisfactorily  ; 
and  afterward  Nelly  laid  it  before  the  doctor,  who  assented 
willingly.  On  Sunday  notice  had  been  given  out  for  the 
Wednesday  evening  following.  Nelly  had  not  deemed  it 
prudent  to  inform  Jane  on  Monday ;  and  here  it  was 
Tuesday  morning.  She  found  that  she,  like  the  rest, 
had  fallen  a  little  in  awe  of  Jane ;  and  she  smiled  at 
herself,  thinking  of  it.  But  domestic  altercations  were 
not  pleasant ;  and  they  had  marked  every  step  of  the 
way  in  her  new  home.  Was  it  strange  that  she  should 
sigh  a  little  for  the  sweet  peace  left  behind  with  her 
girlhood  ? 

"I  am  actually  growing  cowardly,"  she  said,  giving 
herself  a  kind  of  mental  shaking.  "I  will  not  put  it  off  a 
moment  longer." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"  A  warm  hearth,  and  a  bright  hearth,  and  a  hearth  swept  clean, 
Where  the  tongs  don't  raise  a  dust,  and  the  broom  isn't  seen ; 
Where  the  coals  never  fly  abroad,  and  the  soot  doesn't  fall,  — 
Oh !  that's  the  fire  for  a  man  like  me,  in  cottage  or  in  hall." 

THE  large  kitchen  was  almost  painfully  tidy :  Jane 
stood  at  the  farther  end,  ironing,  as  Mrs.  Kinnard  en 
tered.  She  glanced  up,  then  down  again  at  her  work. 

"  Jane,"  said  her  mistress  in  a  pleasant  tone,  "  I  have 
a  little  matter  to  —  to  lay  before  you,  and  consult  you 
about.  The  sewing-society  of  St.  Mark's  Church  is  to 
meet  here  to-morrow  afternoon.  The  new  regulation  is 
to  be  a  simple  supper,  —  sandwiches  and  one  kind  of  cake. 
But  it  will  make  some  extra  work ;  and  you  had  better 
have  help  in  washing  the  dishes.  Biscuits  and  bread, 
and  boiled  ham  or  tongue  ' '  — 

Jane  sat  down  her  iron  with  decision,  and  looked  her 
young  mistress  square  in  the  face. 

"Who  is  going  to  make  bread  and  biscuits?"  she 
demanded  in  a  tone  that  would  have  been  insolent,  but 
for  its  unsympathetic  hardness.  "I  sha' n't  be  through 
ironing  until  mid-afternoon." 

"  I  don't  know  how  you  will  manage  with  Jane,"  the 
doctor  had  said.  ''Wait  until  after  washing-day,  and 
then  go  carefully." 

' '  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  make  them  myself.  The 
doctor  sent  home  some  tongues  3*esterday,  and  there  is 
part  of  a  cold  ham ;  enough,  I  think.  I  might  prepare 
the  tongues  for  boiling  while  you  have  your  ironing-fire. 

143 


144  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

The  bread,  I  suppose,  is  nearly  out.  To-morrow  is 
baking-day  "  — 

"  Family  baking.  But  you  don't  suppose  there  would 
be  enough  for  a  raft  of  people?"  was  the  gruff'  assump 
tion.  "I  haven't  been  used  to  such  doings.  If  I'd  had 
a  longer  notice  ;  but  as  it  is  "  — 

Jane  looked  up  again  to  take  the  measure  of  her  mis 
tress.  She  had  had  several  battles  with  Miss  Grove  and 
Mother Kinnard,  before  she  made  them  "understand  their 
places,"  as  she  phrased  it.  "  For  I  won't  have  any  one 
poking  around  a  kitchen  of  mine,"  was  her  favorite 
announcement.  "  I'm  here  to  do  the  work  ;  and  I  can  do 
it  too."  Once  Miss  Grove  had  gone  so  far  as  to  dis 
charge  her ;  but  the  doctor  had  reinstated  her,  and  begged 
that  bis  sister-in-law  would  not  interfere  in  the  future. 

This  slender,  girlish  figure,  this  youthful  face,  almost 
pleading  in  its  desire  for  reconciliation,  did  not  appear  a 
very  formidable  adversary.  Jane  set  her  lips  firmly,  and 
stared  out  of  her  steel-blue  eyes. 

"  We  shall  not  want  the  biscuit  made  before  to-morrow 
morning,  in  any  event ;  and  nothing  could  have  been  done 
yesterday,  as  you  well  know.  Indeed," — to  give  her 
authority  more  weight,  —  * '  the  doctor  preferred  that  I 
should  not  speak  of  it  yesterday.  I  have  been  used 
to  cooking  and  baking,  sometimes  for  a  large  number, 
and  could  get  the  things  ready  myself ;  will  be  glad  to, 
since  you  are  so  busy.  If  I  can  have  the  fire  this  after 
noon,  therefore  "  — 

"  Well,  you  can't,"  interrupted  Jane  fiercely.  "  What 
ever  is  done  in  this  kitchen,  Jdo :  it's  what  I'm  here  for. 
I  can't  work  with  anybody  fussing  round,  as  the  doctor 
knows.  If  I'm  to  cook,  and  get  meals,  and  do  the  work 
generally,  I  must  plan  for  myself.  I  can't  be  ordered 
about,  nor  have  other  people  planning  ' '  — 

"  Jane,"  Mrs.  Kinnard  said  with  unmistakable  dignity, 
' '  I  think  you  forget  to  whom  you  are  talking.  I  am  Dr. 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  145 

Kinnard's  wife,  and,  by  virtue  of  that,  mistress  in  this 
house.  It  is  not  my  duty  to  consult  you  as  to  who  shall 
come  in  it,  or  at  what  particular  time  they  shall  come ; 
and  it  is  my  privilege,  at  least,  to  enter  and  inspect  every 
room  in  my  house ;  and,  if  I  choose  to  do  any  kind  of 
work,  I  shall  do  it." 

This  was  not  just  the  kind  of  enemy  that  Jane  had 
vanquished  before  ;  but  she  was  resolved  not  to  haul  down 
her  colors.  She  tossed  her  head  with  an  indignant  air, 
and  confronted  her  mistress  boldly. 

' '  Dr.  Kinnard  is  my  employer ;  and  my  bargain  is 
made  with  him,"  she  retorted  angrily.  "I've  always 
said  I  never  would  bargain  with  a  woman,  and  I  never 
will.  And  if  he  wants  any  thing  "  — 

' '  He  does  not  want  any  thing.  The  members  of  my 
own  church  have  been  invited  to  hold  their  sewing-society 
at  this  house  to-morrow  afternoon.  It  is  my  entertain 
ment.  I  shall  see  that  the  supper  is  prepared." 

"  See  to  it,  then,"  and  Jane  gave  a  scornful  laugh. 
"  Perhaps  you  will  see  to  the  ironing,  and  to  the 
dinner?" 

Nelly  could  not  endure  that.  Indeed,  she  wondered 
now  how  she  had  endured  Jane's  insolent  bearing  from 
the  first.  Her  eyes  flashed  forth  their  indignation  ;  and, 
though  her  lip  quivered,  her  voice  was  steady. 

"Jane,"  she  said,  "I  want  you  to  give  the  matter  a 
little  calm  thought,  and  then  decide.  If  you  stay,  you 
will  remember  that  I  am  mistress  in  this  house,  that  I 
have  a  right  to  give  orders,  and  expect  to  have  them 
obeyed.  If  you  choose  to  apologize  for  this  unwarranted 
conduct,  you  can  remain,  otherwise  you  may  consider 
yourself  discharged.  Leave  your  ironing." 

' '  Finish  it,  then,  and  get  your  dinner !  I  am  not 
beholden  to  any  one  for  a  living.  But  I  guess  Dr.  Kin 
nard  will  have  something  to  say  about  it." 

"  Very  well ;  "  and  the- mistress  stood  her  ground  fear 
lessly.  !3 


146  KELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

Jane  marched  off  in  high  dudgeon,  and,  a  minute  later, 
was  regaling  Mother  Kinnard  with  a  somewhat  exagge 
rated  description  of  the  affair. 

Nelly  took  'a  survej*  of  the  situation.  It  was  ten 
o'clock.  There  was  steak  for  dinner,  vegetables  to  be 
prepared,  and  dessert  to  be  made.  In  nothing  must  she 
fail.  Seeing  Mat  pass  the  window,  she  called  to  him. 

"  Will  you  go  to  Mrs.  Daly's,  Mat,  and  ask  her  to 
come  here  at  once.  Tell  her  that  I  wish  to  see  her  par 
ticularly." 

Mat  was  off  in  an  instant.  Nelly  finished  ironing  the 
skirt  Jane  had  left,  and  had  begun  with  another  piece, 
when  Mrs.  Daly  made  her  appearance,  —  a  nice,  pleasant- 
looking  woman  of  thirty-five,  in  a  pretty  calico  gown,  and 
linen  collar,  and  with  a  cheerful  face  that  won  you  at 
once.  She  was  a  widow,  and  did  sewing  generally  ;  though 
now  and  then  she  went  out  to  help  a  neighbor  in  sickness 
or  trouble. 

"Mrs.  Dal}*,"  began  Nelly  with  a  smile,  "  I  am  in  a 
little  perplexity,  and  took  the  liberty  of  sending  for  you. 
Jane  has  mutinied,  and  I  want  some  assistance.  The 
prospect  of  the  sewing-society  seemed  too  much  for  her." 

"I  wonder  that  you.  stood  her  even  this  long,  Mrs. 
Kinnard.  She's  a  splendid  hand  at  work  ;  but  she  has  a 
queer  temper.  She  had  it  as  a  girl.  She  never  would 
work  under  any  one.  And  now  what  shall  I  do?" 
"With  that,  Mrs.  Daly  took  off  her  bonnet  and  shawl. 

"There  is  dinner  to  get,  and  the  ironing  to  finish.  I 
am  really  anxious  to  go  on  promptly.  When  a  girl  like 
Jane  gets  to  thinking  herself  so  absolutely  necessary  as 
she  has  been  for  the  past  two  or  three  years,  it  is  as  well 
for  her  to  have  a  lesson.  But,  first,  were  you  busy?" 

"  Fortunately  riot.  I  had  just  finished  some  shirts  for 
Mr.  Hildreth,  and  thought  I  would  take  a  holiday.  What 
is  there  for  dinner?  The  inevitable  potato,  of  course. 
Can  I  not  see  to  the  vegetables  first?  " 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  147 

"  If  you  will.  How  good  you  are  to  me,  Mrs.  Daly  !  " 
Nell}-  said  impulsively.  "  Sending  for  you  came  like  an 
inspiration  to  me." 

"  I  am  glad  you  did." 

They  went  at  the  dinner  in  earnest,  although  some  time 
was  wasted  iu  finding  what  they  needed,  being  new  to  the 
place.  Then  Nelly  bethought  herself  of  a  pudding  that 
was  a  great  favorite  with  them  at  home,  and  tried  her 
hand  at  it.  When  Mrs.  Daily  had  her  part  in  train,  she 
went  back  to  the  ironing  ;  and  the  two  had  a  rather  merry 
visiting-time.  But,  when  Nelly  went  to  set  the  table,  she 
found  Mother  Kinnard  seated  in  one  of  the  great  easy- 
chairs,  looking  very  solemn  indeed.  She  went  around  in 
.^silence  for  a  few  minutes ;  then  the  elder  lady  broke  it, 
saying,  in  a  rather  sharp  tone,  — 

' '  I  think  you  have  made  a  great  mistake  quarrelling 
with  Jane." 

The  color  flashed  to  Nelly's  brow.  She  hated  so  to  be 
accused  of  quarrelling. 

"  There  was  no  cause  of  dispute.  I  was  explaining  a 
matter  to  Jane,  and  she  took  umbrage  at  it,  and  was  very 
insolent.  I  suppose  I  am  mistress  of  the  house  ;  at  least, 
sufficiently  so  to  have  a  servant  attend  to  any  request." 

"  My  son  will  never  give  up  Jane,  never.  You  have 
had  very  little  experience  with  servants,  or  you  would  be 
able  to  recognize  her  superior  capabilities  at  once." 

"I  do  consider  her  an  excellent  woman  in  many 
respects ;  and  yet  it  does  not  seem  right  to  me  that  a 
whole  household  should  come  under  the  domination  of  a 
domestic." 

"  Well,  you  will  see.  You,  at  least,  had  no  right  to 
discharge  her.  Although  she  will  not  go  away." 

Nelly  bit  her  lip  hard  to  keep  from  an  indignant  reply. 
Arguing  the  point  was  useless  ;  so  she  went  on  with  her 
work.  The  dinner-bell  rang  promptly,  and  the  table  was 
in  its  usual  order.  Nelly  had  bathed  her  face,  and  put  on 


148  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

a  dainty  white  ruffled  apron.  Miss  Grove  came  down 
stairs  the  moment  the  doctor  entered  the  hall.  He  kissed 
his  wife  quietly, — the  foolishness  both  women  sneered 
at,  —  and  took  his  place. 

"  How  elegantly  this  steak  is  broiled  !  "  was  his  rather 
unusual  comment.  "  Jane  has  exceeded  herself,  which  is 
saying  a  good  deal,  especially  on  ironing-day.  My  idea 
of  comfortable  living  is  —  and  when  I  am  rich  enough  I 
shall  indulge  in  it  —  to  have  a  laundry  entirety  distinct 
from  the  house,  and  to  keep  an  extra  person  to  manage 
it,  who  need  not  bring  her  temper  into  the  regular  house 
hold  ^lepartment.  How  will  that  do,  Nelly? " 

"It  would  answer  admirably,  and  not  be  very  expen 
sive,  either." 

"  I  proposed  it  once  to  Jane  ;  but  she  did  not  seem  to 
understand  the  manifold  advantages." 

Mother  Kinnard  had  planned  an  attack  very  nicely, 
she  thought ;  but  the  doctor's  commendation  quite  de 
stroyed  the  point  of  it,  and  she  preserved  a  discreet 
silence.  Nelly  changed  the  current  of  the  conversation  ; 
but  she  knew  it  must  come  presently.  She  touched  the 
bell,  and  Mrs.  Daly  entered  to  remove  the  plates.  Dr. 
Kinnard  glanced  up,  and  nodded  cheerfully ;  but  his 
mind  had  settled  then  on  the  rather  puzzling  symptoms 
of  a  patient. 

Miss  Grove  ate  a  little  of  her  pudding.  "Was  the  whole 
meal  to  pass,  and  nothing  to  be  said?  So  she  entered  the 
wedge  herself. 

"Maud,  my  dear,"  in  a  peculiarly  marked  tone,  "I 
am  sorry  to  deprive  you  of  dessert ;  but  this  pudding  is 
quite  too  rich  for  you.  Do  not  eat  any  more." 

The  doctor  glanced  up. 

"  I  was  thinking  it  delightful.  It  has  quite  a  new  taste 
to  me.  Is  it  ruinously  rich,  fit  food  for  dyspepsia?  " 

"  I  should  think  it  certainly  was." 

"  On  the  contrary,  Miss  Grove,  it  is  not  as  rich  as  one 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  149 

or  two  that  Jane  makes,  which  are  eaten  with  great  com- 
placencj7,"  returned  Nelly,  trying  to  keep  her  voice 
steady. 

"Why,  where  is  Jane?  —  called  home?  Her  mother 
was  no  worse  yesterday.  I  was  in  there." 

"  I  will  explain  the  matter  by,  and  by,"  returned  his 
wife.  "  Will  you  have  some  more  pudding?  " 

"Well,  yes.  Is  it  a  preparation  of  your  fairy 
fingers?  " 

She  laughed  and  blushed,  happy  to  have  satisfied  him 
in  this  her  first  meal,  and  feeling  that  she  had  vanquished 
Jane.  Her  husband  questioned  no  further,  to  Miss 
Grove's  great  dissatisfaction. 

Afterward,  in  the  office,  Nelly  told  her  story.  Dr. 
Jvinnard  looked  very  grave. 

"  You,  see,"  he  said  in  return,  "  I  had  to  take  Jane's 
part  in  the  beginning.  Mother  and  Adelaide  would  never 
have  agreed  in  ordering  a  servant.  She  has  grown  into 
authority  b}'  degrees  ;  and,  honestly,  we  have  all  helped  to 
make  her  of  consequence.  But,  when  it  comes  to  such  an 
issue  as  this,  there  is  but  one  course.  I  shall  be  sorry  to 
lose  her,  and  you  will  have  a  good  deal  of  trouble  and 
anxiety  before  you  are  suited  again  ;  but  you  are  mistress 
of  this  department." 

"  Oh,  thank  you  a  thousand  times,  Barton !  "  and  s£& 
kissed  his  broad  forehead.  "  I  was  so  afraid  you  would 
blame  me  ;  but  I  did  try  to  be  patient." 

"  I  have  been  thinking  for  some  time  that  a  change 
might  be  beneficial.  Mat  complains  a  good  deal.  The 
truth  is,  Jane  is  somewhat  of  a  tyrant.  Now,  if  you  will 
send  her  to  me,  we  will  have  the  matter  settled.  Possibly 
your  dinner  took  me  on  the  weak  side  ;  "  and  he  smiled. 

"  I  would  rather  have  her  discharged,  Barton.  I  cer 
tainly  can  manage.  So  please  do  not  take  an  apolog}*." 

Then  she  sent  Mrs.  Daly  to  summon  Jane.  The  irate 
woman  went  down  to  the  office  with  a  lofty  air,  having 

13* 


150  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

fortified  herself  with  various  points  and  arguments  which 
were  quite  needless.  Indeed,  she  was  so  surprised  and 
stunned  by  the  sudden  turn  in  affairs,  that  she  allowed 
herself  to  be  overwhelmed  by  the  first  flood,  and  then 
could  not  regain  her  footing.  Consequently  she  propped 
up  her  failing  cause  with  anger,  and  lost  it. 

After  dinner  she  packed  her  trunk,  and  retired  from  the 
scene  of  action,  taking  with  her  the  warm  sj'mpathy  of 
two  members  of  the  family.  And  yet,  down  in  her  heart, 
Mother  Kinnard  felt  rather  relieved ;  for  she  had  not 
enjoyed  Jane's  supreme  power. 

"But  that  is  the  first  move,"  she  said  to  Miss  Grove. 
"  She  winds  Barton  completely  around  her  finger.  We 
cannot  tell  whose  turn  it  will  be  to  go  next." 

Nelly  and  Mrs.  Daly  made  ready  for  the  sewing-societ}r, 
and  found  it  no  wonderful  burthen.  Mrs.  Daly  knew  of 
a  young  girl  who  was  very  ready  to  come  in  and  help  wait 
on  the  supper-table.  Soon  after  dinner  a  wagon  arrived 
with  baskets  and  bundles  of  sewing-materials  ;  and  pres 
ently  the  people  began  to  gather. 

The  hall  stove  had  been  put  up,  and  diffused  a  cheerful 
warmth  throughout.  All  the  doors  were  open,  and  the 
windows  arranged  to  let  in  sufficient  light  and  sunshine 
without  making  a  glare.  The  state-parlor  looked  cosey 
and  inviting.  Pictures  were  shadowed  with  a  bit  of  over 
hanging  green,  intermixed  with  scarlet  autumn  foliage. 
There  were  clusters  of  ferns  that  seemed  endued  with  life 
and  freshness,  as  they  made  a  background  for  a  bust  or 
small  statuette.  The  open  piano  had  an  hospitable  air ; 
and  the  books  and  engravings  were  provocative  of  idleness, 
rather  than  industry. 

Mr.  Dudley  soon  made  his  appearance.  He  had  prom 
ised  to  come  in  time  for  re-organizing.  Here  were  the 
officers  of  the  old  society ;  and  everj-body  went  to  tell 
ing  what  it  had  been.  Nelly  helped  Mr.  Dudley  to  lead 
them  back  to  business,  and,  after  a  little,  the  heads  agreed. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  151 

The  afternoon  would  be  for  work,  the  evening  for 
entertainment ;  and  the  clause  was  inserted  for  simple 
suppers,  though  each  woman  made  a  mental  reservation, 
until  she  saw  what  Mrs.  Kinnard  had.  Then  the  work 
was  drawn  out.  A  few  garments,  a  little  half-finished 
fanc}'-work,  patchwork,  planning,  and  gossiping.  Nelly 
tried  to  keep  the  latter  very  friendly  in  its  tone.  No 
minister's  wife  could  have  been  more  judicious. 

There  was  another  quiet  little  triumph  that  Nelly  wae» 
enjoying  immensely :  this  was  the  presence  of  Mother 
Kinnard,  who  in  the  beginning  had  ten  minds  out  of  the 
dozen  against  coming  in.  It  wasn't  "  our  church,"  and  it 
wasn't  exactly  "my  son's  company ;"  and  she  still  felt 
sore  about  Jane's  discharge,  and  predicted  that  the  thing 
would  be  a  failure.  But  there  was  Mrs.  Woodbury  dressed 
in  black  silk  and  lovely  old  laces,  taking,  in  a  thankful 
spirit,  Nelly's  pretty  adornment  of  a  sprig  of  purple  helio 
trope  in  her  waving,  silvery  hair,  and  saying,  "  Thank  you, 
my  dear !  I  would  have  gone  twice  as  far  for  a  bit  of 
heliotrope."  Then,  when  she  brought  her  work  over  by 
Mrs.  Kinnard,  the  old  lady  could  not  help  thawing  out  a 
little;  for  Mrs.  Woodbury  belonged  to  one  of  the  "old 
families,"  and  her  son  was  a  representative  at  Washington. 
Then  Nelly  coaxed  Mrs.  Irwin  into  their  circle,  and  left 
them  chatting  amiably.  And  so  she  moved  from  one  to 
another,  introducing  some  shy-looking  girls,  bringing 
groups  together,  and  drawing  out  the  social  element. 
Others  kept  dropping  in,  and  adding  a  stir  and  gentle 
confusion.  "How  much  the  "rooms  were  improved!" 
"What  a  pretty  conservatory!"  "And  how  did  Mrs. 
Kinnard  manage  to  have  so  many  flowers  in  bloom  during 
the  transition  season  ?  "  "  And  who  ever  thought  of  hav 
ing  such  lovely  pansies  in  the  fall !  —  quite  as  large  as  hot 
house  pansies."  Of  course  she  had  been  to  Colden's 
Rock  for  ferns  ;  and  wasn't  Kelly's  Falls  a  beautiful  spot? 
And  then  had  she  read  this  or  that?  and  did  she  know 
how  this  apron  was  to  be  put  together? 


152  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"I  declare,"  Mrs.  Woodbury  said  with  a  cordial, 
motherly  smile,  "  you  might  be  a  minister's  wife  !  I  am 
almost  sorry  that  Mr.  Dudley  did  not  get  the  start  of 
our  good  doctor.  Why,  I  never  saw  a  sewing-society 
managed  so  admirably  ;  and  still  the  people  come." 

It  was  getting  dusk  now.  Dr.  Kinnard  hurried  through 
with  the  last  of  his  patients,  and  was  home  early,  as  Nelly 
had  begged  of  him.  Mrs.  Daly  was  arranging  the  table 
quietly,  without  the  rattling  of  spoons  and  knives  and 
forks,  — Jane's  usual  accompaniment.  Some  of  the  elder 
gentlemen  came  to  tea,  and  talked  over  church-matters 
and  business-matters.  The  coffee  and  tea  were  fragrant, 
the  bread  and  biscuit  delightful,  the  cake  plain,  and  great 
dishes  of  grapes  afterward.  When  the  long  dining-table 
had  been  filled,  Nelly  brought  out  some  cosey  little  tables, 
and  seated  two  or  four  at  them.  The  younger  people 
stood  up,  or  rambled  around,  with  a  plate  in  their  hands, 
laughing  and  chatting.  Dr.  Kinnard  did  himself  more 
than  justice.  He  added  life  and  zest,  told  two  or  three 
capital  stories,  and  made  everybody  admire  him  more 
than  ever. 

They  lingered  over  the  table  as  if  loath  to  break  up  the 
sociality ;  and  at  last  Nelly  begged  her  husband  to  take 
the  crowd  around  him  into  the  parlor.  Miss  Grove  had 
condescended  to  come  down  to  tea,  and  brought  Maud, 
dressed  like  a  fashion-plate. 

"  I  suppose  jTou  hardly  lay  claim  to  your  little  daughter 
yet,"  Mrs.  Woodbury  said  in  a  low  aside,  when  she 
found  herself  in  a  recess  with  Nelly.  ' '  Miss  Grove 
is  an  admirable  woman  in  some  respects  ;  but  it  doesn't 
seem  to  me  that  she  understands  childhood  at  all.  She 
acts  as  if  it  were  something  to  be  ashamed  of,  and  laid 
aside  as  soon  as  possible.  Now,  I  think  true,  pretty- 
behaved  children  are  as  much  addition  to  a  house  as  a 
beautiful  picture,  just  in  appearance  merely ;  and  then, 
when  we  think  of  them  as  our  future  men  and  women,  we 


NELLY  KDTNAED'S  KINGDOM.  153 

long  to  have  their  lives  complete  and  harmonious,  with  a 
springtime  to  them.  And  that  poor  little  thing  looks  to 
me  as  if  she  never  ran  and  played,  or  laughed  freely. 
And  she  is  dressed  as  if  for  a  ball." 

"  Her  aunt  takes  entire  charge  of  her,"  Nelly  said 
slowly. 

"Yes.  But  I  can't  help  wishing  Providence  would 
place  her  in  your  hands.  Your  own  childhood  is  not  so 
far  back,  but  that  you  remember  it." 

There  was  a  little  shyness  among  the  young  folks  about 
playing.  If  Mrs.  Kinnard  would  only  give  them  some 
thing  first.  So  Mrs.  Kinnard  played  a  very  spirited  quick 
step,  and,  at  Mr.  Dudley's  desire,  sang  that  sweet  little 
home-song,  "Don't  be  sorrowful,  darling."  Twenty 
years  from  this,  would  she  sing  with  a  still  sweet  voice? — 

"  We  have  had  our  May,  my  darling, 

And  our  roses  long  ago ; 
And  the  time  of  the  year,  is  coming,  my  dear, 
For  the  silent  night  and  the  snow." 

The  only  trouble  with  the  evening  was  its  brevity. 
Everybody  was  glad  they  had  come,  and  sorry  for  those 
who  had  staid  away.  Mrs.  Woodbury  proposed  to  have 
the  society  next  time  at  her  house. 

"But  yon  will  surely  come,"  she  entreated  of  Mrs. 
Kinnard.  "And,  my  dear,  I  want  to  see  more  of  you. 
I  am  an  old  lady,  to  be  sure  ;  but  I  still  enjoy  youth  and 
brightness.  And  the  doctor  has  always  been  such  a  favo 
rite  of  ours.  Come  over  and  take  tea  with  me  in  an  in 
formal  way,  and  then  ask  me  to  spend  the  day  with  you. 
I  get  quite  lonesome  at  times.  My  children  are  all 
married,  and  away  ;  and  my  grandchildren  can  only  come 
during  vacations.  Now  remember.  I  do  not  ask  favors 
very  often  ; ' '  and  she  kissed  the  fair  face  with  motherly 
warmth. 

The  elder  Mrs.  Kinnard  stood  at  a  little  distance,  and 


154  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

saw  not  only  that,  but  some  other  very  cordial  partings 
She  understood,  too,  how  very  proud  her  son  hsd  been  of 
his  wife  all  the  evening.  Hardly  another  girl  or  woman 
in  the  room  was  as  pretty ;  and  yet  she  had  no  self-con 
sciousness  about  it,  —  cordial,  winsome,  with  a  peculiar 
dignity  that  did  not  detach  her  from  her  husband,  but 
made  the  years  between  less  apparent.  And  to-night 
Miss  Grove  looked  undeniably  old.  Whether  it  was  her 
sage-green  siik,  which  was  very  unbecoming,  but  had  the 
merit  of  being  a  new  color,  or  her  supercilious  air,  Mrs. 
Kinnard  could  not  decide.  She  had  a  misgiving,  how 
ever,  that  ' '  dear  Adelaide ' '  could  never  have  made  these 
people  so  enjoy  themselves,  or  have  won  such  golden 
opinicms,  or  even  brought  the  proud  and  happy  look  to 
41  my  son's  face."  She  had  not  been  called  upon  to 
love-  her  first  daughter-in-law.  Mary  Grove  was  not 
given  to  sentiment ;  and  then,  too,  she  had  many  other 
interests  to  life  at  that  time.  She  seemed  to  feel  a  little 
jealous  now  of  Mrs.  "Woodbury's  fondness.  There  are 
natures  in  this  world  that  never  can  appreciate  any  thing 
until  the  verdict  of  others  settles  the  claim ;  and  Mrs. 
Kinnard's  was  of  this  stamp.  She  might  always  consider 
her  son  foolish  because  he  chose  a  poor  wife  when  he 
might  have  had  a  rich  one :  but  to-night  she  felt  how 
sweet  youth  and  beauty  were  to  him  ;  how  he  basked  in 
it,  as  if  it  were  sunshine.  And  even  Mr.  Dudley  had 
studied  curiously  this  bright,  entertaining  woman,  with 
her  exquisite  social  tact,  her  charming  variety  and 
adaptiveness,  that  infused  a  broad  and  generous  charm 
outside  of  herself.  The  wedding-party,  under  Miss 
Grove's  management,  had  been  stiff  and  lifeless  in  com 
parison  with  this. 

And  when  they  had  all  gone  with  merry  good-nights 
and  warm  invitations,  Dr.  Kinnard  took  a  long  glance  out 
into  the  frosty  air  and  starry  sky,  while  his  wife  and 
mother  stood  there  together. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  155 

"  Did  yon  think  it  was  pleasant?"  Nelly  asked  timidly, 
remarking  the  softened  lines  about  the  other's  face. 

"Why — yes,"  with  some  hesitation.  "I  had  no 
idea  as  many  good  families  went  to  St.  Mark's.  They 
used  to  go  to  Grace.  And  you've  done  very  well  to 
night,  —  better  than  I  thought  you  could,  without  Jane." 

The  doctor  shut  the  door  at  that  moment.  "  To  tell 
the  truth,"  he  said  laughingly,  "  Jane  has  been  a  sort  of 
*  family  ogre  to  us.  I  am  glad  she  has  gone.  Mat  says 
the  kitchen  is  like  paradise :  so  we  will  put  up  with  a 
few  mishaps  and  blunders  for  a  while,  hoping  to  end 
happily  with  a  new  servant  who  is  not  a  scold." 

"  Mrs.  Mercer  told  me  of  a  woman  that  I  am  going  to 
see  .to-morrow,  —  a  German  woman,  whose  husband  was 
killed  in  a  mill  some  months  ago.  She  has  one  little 
child,  a  girl,  and  has  gone  out  washing ;  but  the  girl  at 
Mrs.  Mercer's  said  she  wanted  a  service  place  for  the 
winter." 

"Be  sure  to  learn  what  her  cooking  capabilities  are. 
I  can't  have  you  in  the  kitchen  all  the  time,  getting  your 
face  burned.  What  was  her  name?  " 

"  Mary  Berkman  ;  and  she  lives  in  Allen's  Row." 

"Berkman  —  yes,  I  do  remember  —  was  caught  in  the 
machinery,  poor  fellow  !  Do  you  know  that  it  is  almost 
midnight,  Mrs.  Kinnard?  #nd  those  society  people  were 
to  go  home  at  ten  o'clock." 

"They  did  begin  at  that -time,"  returned  Nelly  laugh 
ingly. 

"  Dudley's  delighted.  He  told  me  privately  that  they 
had  taken  in  twenty- three  dollars,  and  that  he  is  quite 
sure  no  one  could  have  made  it  such  a  success  as  you 
did.  I  really  thought  it  very  enjoyable ;  and  I'm  not 
much  used  to  such  things." 

Nelly  Kinnard  laid  a  tired  head  upon  her  pillow  ;  and 
yet  she  could  not  go  to  sleep.  There  were  so  many 
ideas  floating  through  her  brain  —  worlds  to  conquer  ;  and 
Mother  Kinnard  had  actually  praised  her. 


156  NELLY  KESTNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

"If  it  wasn't  for  Aunt  Adelaide,  I  am  quite  confident 
that  I  could  make  her  love  me,"  the  yornig  wife  thought. 
"  And  she  ought  to  love  Barton  ever  so  much  better. 
Why  is  there  not  more  real,  vital  love  in  the  world  that 
is  not  afraid  to  speak  or  to  act  for  itself?  " 


CHAPTER 

"  A  creature  not  too  bright  or  good 
For  human  nature's  daily  food, 
For  transient  sorrows,  simple  wiles, 
Praise,  blame,  love,  kisses,  tears,  and  smiles." 

WOBDSWOBTH. 

"THEY'LL  be  glad  enough  to  take  me  back  again," 
Jane  had  said  to  her  sister  the  day  she  left  the  Kin- 
nards'.  "  I've  been  through  this  before,  and  don't  feel 
at  all  alarmed.  I  know  how  to  get  along  with  those 
women  ;  and  not  another  girl  in  this  town  could  manage 
either  one  of  them.  Mrs.  Kinnard  thinks  she's  wonder 
fully  smart ;  but  she'll  see  !  " 

And  she  did  see.  She  found  Mary  Berkman  the  next 
morning,  —  a  somewhat  stout,  rosy,  good-natured  looking 
woman,  who  could  wash  and  iron  with  any  one,  and  do 
plain  cooking.  "  She  could  learn  other  things,"  she 
said  with  a  cheerful  smile.  But  she  must  take  her  little 
girl.  She  would  go  for  less  wages,  if  she  could  have  her ; 
and  the  child  was  very  handy  and  quiet,  and  quick  to 
mind.  So  Nelly  proposed  she  should  come  a  month  on 
trial.  Her  cottage  she  could  rent ;  and  thus  the  bargain 
was  concluded. 

Mrs.  Daly  remained  until  Mary  made  her  appearance. 
Mother  Kinnard  fretted  about  the  child ;  but  Nelly 
smoothed  the  matter  by  saying,  that,  if  she  proved  a 
trouble,  it  was  only  for  a  month.  So  Mary  took  her 
place  in  the  kitchen ;  and  with  a  pleasant  mistress  to 
induct  her,  and  explain  the  ways  of  the  family,  she 

14  157 


158  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.     * 

soon  felt  at  home.  Little  Katy  was  very  shy  and  quiet, 
and  ready  enough  to  do  errands  out  of  school. 

Nelly  astonished  both  her  husband  and  his  mother  by 
her  housewifely  ways.  Never  was  revolution  in  Dr. 
Kinnard's  house  more  quietly  effected.  Not  that  they 
came  to  clear  sailing  at  once.  Miss  Grove  had  some 
fault  to  find,  and  Jane's  cooking  appeared  now  to  be  her 
ideal. 

"I  must  say,  Adelaide,  I  do  not  observe  any  wonder 
ful  difference,  except  the  variety  in  desserts ;  "  and  he 
glanced  mischievously  at  his  wife.  "And  the  house  is 
quieter.  It  must  be  acknowledged  that  Jane  was  that 
bad  thing  in  woman,  —  a  scold.  I,  for  one,  do  not 
feel  inclined  to  regret  her,  or  to  have  her  memory 
embalmed  in  my  household." 

Mother  Kinnard  ventured  to  make  herself  again  at 
home  in  the  kitchen.  Nelly  managed  that  she  should 
not  annoy  Marj^,  and  often  consulted  her  upon  some 
point  that  rendered  her  quite  happ}'.  Ve^  slow  work  it 
was  ;  but  the  young  wife  felt  that  she  did  gain  a  little  in 
the  esteem  of  the  elder  woman.  A  few  times  Mrs.  Kin 
nard  had  said  "  Nelly"  in  speaking  to  her,  which  made 
her  heart  beat  with  unwonted  emotion.  Generally  she 
evaded  any  name. 

And  Christmas  came  presently ;  for  the  last  two  months 
had  gone  very  rapidly.  It  had  never  been  made  of  much 
account  in  the  doctor's  famity,  — a  rather  formal  presen 
tation  of  gifts  in  the  morning,  but  with  no  genial  holiday 
aspect  after  that.  It  fell  on  Monday  :  so  Nellie  resolved, 
if  her  husband  did  not  object,  to  spend  three  or  four  days 
at  home,  and  keep  the  festival  in  the  olden  manner. 

"  I  couldn't  go  with  you,  could  I?"  said  Bertie  wist 
fully.  "  And  there's  no  school  for  a  fortnight,  either." 

"  Would  you  like  to  go?  There  are  no  little  boys  to 
play  with ;"  and  Nelly  hesitated,  thinking  whether  she 
wanted  the  bother  on  her  holidaj7. 


NELLY  KTNNARD'S  KINGDOM.  159 

"  I  wouldn't  mind.  Couldn't  I  ride  down  on  my  sled? 
I  might  take  it,  you.  know." 

u  Herbert !  "  exclaimed  a  sharp  voice,  as  Aunt  Adelaide 
passed  through  the  hall :  it  was  late  twilight,  though  the 
lamps  were  not  lighted,  —  "Herbert,  I  am  ashamed  of 
you! — Mrs.  Kinnard,  do  not,  I  pray,  fill  the  child's 
head  with  any  such  foil}'.  Children's  visiting  is  a  thing  I 
should  never  allow,  except  at  the  home  of  a  near  relative, 
and  I  think  I  have  some  rights  with  my  sister's  children. 
I  shall  beg  }*our  father  not  to  let  you,  even  if  he  is  weak 
enough  to  listen  to  such  a  preposterous  idea." 

Bertie  began  to  whine. 

"  Never  mind,"  said  his  mamma  softly.  "  Let  me  tell 
you  a  Christmas  story." 

For  once  Aunt  Adelaide  took  the  start  of  them,  and 
gained  her  point.  The  doctor  coincided  with  her,  that  it 
would  be  quite  absurd.  Nell}-  said  no  more ;  and  3"et, 
from  her  heart,  she  pitied  any  children  condemned  to 
such  a  dreary  holiday.  Once  she  had  half  a  mind  to 
stay  at  home. 

"  Nonsense  !  "  said  the  doctor  peremptorily. 

She  went  on  Saturday,  and  had  a  lovely  Christmas 
Sunday,  —  a  preparation  for  the  higher  feast.  How  good 
it  was  to  enjoy  herself  with  the  dear  home-circle  once 
more !  Then,  when  they  returned  from  the  Christmas 
morning  services,  they  found  Dr.  Kinnard  ready  to  take 
dinner  with  them. 

"  But  I  must  go  back  this  evening,"  he  said.  "  I  have 
two  quite  critical  cases  on  hand.  However,  it  shall  not 
spoil  your  holida3%  You  deserve  a  good  long  one,  little 
woman,  though  Mary  gave  me  private  instructions  to 
bring  you  home  with  me." 

Nelly  only  smiled  then  ;  but  some  curious  presentiment 
decided  her  to  return.  They  had  the  tree  just  at  dusk  ; 
and  no  one  was  more  delighted  with  his  remembrances 
than  the  doctor,  who  kissed  his  rosy  sisters-in-law  all 


160  NELLY  KINNAIID'S  KINGDOM. 

round,  and  declared  that  they  were  enough  to  spoil  any 
man. 

Nelly  came  down  presently,  warmly  wrapped  in  her 
furs. 

"  But  you  are  not  going !  "  he  cried  in  astonishment. 

"  Don't  you  want  me?  "  she  asked  saucily. 

"It  is  too  bad!-"  said  Gertrude.  "Can't  you  make 
her  stay,  doctor?" 

"  Wh}',  yes,  I  could,  because,  you  see,  she  has  promised 
to  obey  me.  But  then  she  looks  so  pretty,  all  muffled  up 
to  the  tip  of  the  nose,  that  really  —  I  cannot  resist.  I  am 
afraid  I  do  want  to  take  her." 

"I  should  go  to-morrow  anyhow,"  said  Nelly  with  a 
shower  of  kisses.  "  And  }x>u  are  all  to  come  and  keep 
New  Year's  with  me,  remember." 

So  they  gave  each  other  a  fond  good-by.  Dr.  Kinnard 
drew  his  wife  tenderly  under  his  wing ;  and  they  walked 
briskly  toward  the  station. 

"It  was  so  generous  of  you  to  come!  "  he  said  once, 
as,  making  a  slight  misstep,  he  took  occasion  to  draw  her 
nearer.  "  You  might  have  staid  all  the  week,  you  know. 
I  had  promised  not  to  grumble  ;  though  I  must  admit  that 
I  am  always  a  little  jealous  of  the  circle  at  the  rectory." 

"  And  unjustly  too,"  she  answered  with  a  gay  laugh. 

"  They  are  girls,  to  be  sure.  Well,  when  I  have  had 
you  twenty  years,  I  may  begin  to  feel  quite  assured  of  3Tour 
regard." 

"Twenty  years!"  she  exclaimed.  "Why,  think  how 
old  I  shall  be  !" 

"  And  think  how  old  I  shall  be  !  —  hobbling  round  with 
a  cane,  no  doubt;  "  and  there  was  a  sound  of  humorous 
complaint  in  his  tone. 

"We  shall  have  had  a  glad,  sweet  summer,  I  trust," 
she  made  answer. 

It  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  just  touched  the  bounda 
ries  of  spring,  mid- winter  though  it  might  be  around. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  161 

And  so  they  journeyed  on  until  the  familiar  station  came 
in  sight  with  Mat  awaiting  them. 

"  Mat,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I  wish  you  would  drive  right 
over  to  the  Rltchies'.  They  are  a  good  deal  alarmed 
about  their  little  girl ;  and  I  promised  to  drop  in  this 
evening.  I  feel  anxious  myself.  Such  a  pretty  little 
thing  !  —  3'ou  never  saw  her,  Nelly,  —  and  their  only 
child." 

They  flew  like  the  wind.  It  was  realty  exhilarating  to 
Nelly.  And  now  the  moon  was  coming  up,  glinting 
every  point  of  snow  and  ice  with  a  thousand  fairy  spar 
kles. 

"I  think  the  symptoms  are  more  favorable,"  said  the 
doctor  as  he  emerged  from  the  Rltchies'.  "  I  changed 
the  remedies  this  morning,  and  I  do  believe  now  that  I 
shall  raise  her.  Did  you  get  chilly,  waiting?  " 

"  No,"  returned  Nelly. 

"  Why,  Mat,  you  are  in  a  hurry  to-night,"  was  his  next 
comment.  "  Are  you  longing  for  your  snug  corner,  with 
no  Jane  to  scold  ?  —  Nelly,  that  was  a  masterstroke  of 
yours  ; ' '  and  the  doctor  laughed  gayly. 

Mat  made  no  reply  until  they  reached  the  broad  avenue. 
Then  he  loosed  the  reins,  and,  leaning  over  a  little,  said 
hesitatingly,  — 

"There's  been  an  accident,  doctor.  Bertie  had  a  fall, 
and  broke  his  arm." 

"  Bertie  !  —  broken  his  arm !     When  ?  " 

"  About  three  this  afternoon.  He  was  playing  in  the 
barn.  He  was  pretty  bad  at  first " — 

"Is  it  set?  What  did  you  do?"  and  Dr.  Kinnard 
sprang  out  of  the  sleigh. 

' '  I  went  for  Dr.  Searles  straight  off ;  and  he  set  it. 
But  he  kept  fainting  so  often." 

"  Oh !  "  and  Nelly  uttered  a  little  cry.  "  I  am  so  glad 
I  came  with  you  ! ' ' 

They  entered  the  hall.  The  office-door  was  wide  open. 
14* 


162  NELLY  EDWARD'S  KINGDOM. 

Bertie  lay  on  the  couch,  with  Maud  and  Aunt  Adelaide  for 
attendants.  The  doctor  marched  over,  and  took  his  little 
son's  limp  hand. 

"Bad  business,  Bertie,"  he  said,  but  in  a  rather  cheery 
tone.  "  Does  it  hurt  much?  " 

"  Has  mamma  come?     Did  you  bring  her?  " 

"  Bad  business  indeed !  "  exclaimed  Miss  Grove,  rising 
directly  in  Nelly's  way.  "Yet  I  must  saj*,  Barton,  the 
child  is  justly  punished.  I  hope  it  will  be  a  lesson  to  him 
in  the  future.  A  more  disobedient  child  I  never  saw. 
He  has  been  completely  ruined  by  foolish  indulgence. 
He  is  no  more  the  boy  he  was  a  year  ago  than  a  noxious 
weed  is  like  a  trained  garden-plant.  I  look  upon  this  as 
a  direct  interposition  of  Providence  to  call  you  all  to  your 
senses." 

' '  What  is  all  this  about  ? ' '  asked  the  doctor  sharply, 
turning  to  his  sister-in-law.  "  Can  any  one  give  me  a 
coherent  account  ?  ' ' 

"  I  am  trying  to,  if  }rou  will  onty  have  a  little  patience. 
How  different  you  have  grown  of  late  ! ' '  and  she  cast  an 
indignant  glance  upon  him.  "This  morning  Herbert 
was  very  impertinent ;  and  I  told  him  that  he  should  keep 
Ms  room  the  whole  afternoon.  I  am  sorry  I  did  not  lock 
the  door ;  for  he  has  come  to  have  no  sense  of  honor  what 
ever.  I  went  down  stairs  for  a  few  moments  ;  and,  coward 
that  he  was,  he  took  that  opportunity  to  escape.  So  I  say 
he  deserved  severe  enough  punishment  to  make  him  re 
member  it  one  while.  You  had  better  take  him  up  to  bed 
now." 

u  No,  don't!"  almost  screamed  Bertie.  "  I  want  to 
stay  just  here.  It  hurts  me  to  stir.  —  Mamma,  keep  me 
licre^  ' '  and  he  stretched  out  his  well  arm  imploringly. 

' '  You  see  the  display  of  temper ;  ' '  and  Miss  Grove 
raised  her  head  majesticalty.  ' '  Barton,  do  you  mean 
that  the  child  shall  be  ruined,  body  and  soul?  He  always 
did  need  a  strong  hand.  I'm  sure  I  do  not  see  where  he 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  163 

inherited  his  temper,  not  from  our  side.  Maud  is  like 
her  own  dear  mother.  I  never  have  any  trouble  with  her. 
And  Bertie  was  quite  manageable  until "  — 

"  That  will  do,  Adelaide.  I  have  yet  to  learn  where 
and  how  the  child  fell,  and  how  much  he  is  injured. 
There,  hush,  Bertie ; "  for  he  had  begun  an  hysterical 
crying. 

"  Why,  he  ran  out  to  the  barn  to  hide  himself,  and  fell 
from  some  of  the  rafters,  and  broke  his  arm,"  said  Miss 
Grove  with  spiteful  impatience,  which  she  called  just 
indignation.  "  Dr.  Searles  said  it  was  a  simple  fracture, 
and,  with  care,  would  be  well  in  a  month.  As  if  no  one 
had  ever  broken  a  bone  before  !  " 

"  Are  you  hurt  in  any  other  place,  Bertie?  "  his  father 
asked  in  a  calm,  tranquillizing  tone. 

"  I  am  hurt  all  over.  Oh,  don't  touch  me,  papa !  "  and 
he  shrunk  away. 

"You  and  Maud  maybe  dismissed,"  the  doctor  said 
briefly  to  his  sister-in-law.  "  I  want  to  make  a  slight 
examination  ;  and  I  think  he  had  better  stay  here  for  this 
night." 

"  It  surprises  me  to  see  you  indulge  that  child  so 
ruinously.  If  his  poor  mother  had  lived  "  — 

"That  will  do." 

"  Very  well.  I  wash  my  hands  of  the  whole  matter.  I 
would  have  devoted  my  life  to  my  '  poor  dead  sister's ' 
children  ;  but,  if  you  will  interfere,  take  the  risk  yourself. 
If  the  child  grows  up  a  trouble  to  you  and  everybody  else, 
remember  that  I  warned  you.  —  Come,  Maud." 

The  doctor  dropped  into  a  chair.  How  many  such 
scenes  of  angry  persistence  he  had  gone  through  in  the 
past  was  known  only  to  himself  and  God.  Nothing  can 
be  more  wearing  and  wearisome  than  people  who  are 
always  in  the  right,  and  always  ready  to  dispute  to  the 
last  straw. 

Nelly,  meanwhile,  had  been  taking  off  her  hat,  and 


164  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

warm  fur  sack.  Now  she  knelt  by  Bertie's  couch.  Suf 
fering  appealed  to  her  strongly ;  and  she  knew  by  the 
sunken  eyes,  the  pinched  and  tense  lines,  and  ashen 
pallor,  that  the  pain  had  not  all  proceeded  from  a  child's 
irrational  terror.  She  kissed  the  hand  that  la}7  there  so 
limp  and  white. 

"O  mamma!  don't  go  away  and  leave  me!  1  like 
you  better  than  any  one  else  in  the  wide  world,  only  Tom 
Lester  at  school.  But  3-ou  don't  care  for  that,  do  you? 
He  has  such  a  splendid  lot  of  things,  and  a  real  workshop  ; 
and  his  father  is  going  to  give  him  a  pony  next  summer. 
He  promised  me  a  ride  on  it.  But  I'd  rather  live  with 
you,  if  Aunt  Adelaide  wasn't  here.  Oh  !  "  — 

A  sudden  spasm  seemed  to  shake  the  child.  His  eyes 
rolled  wildly ;  and  his  lips  were  thin  and  blue.  Nelly 
chafed  the  cold  palm,  and  watched  the  face  that  had  been 
so  rosy  an  hour  or  two  ago.  Bertie  drew  a  long,  shudder 
ing  breath,  and  lay  very  quiet. 

"It  is  something  more  than  a  broken  arm,"  she  said 
in  a  tremulous  tone. 

Dr.  Kinnard  started,  came  to  the  couch,  and  bent  over 
his  boy,  over  Nelly  kneeling  there,  as  he  had  never 
seen  any  woman  kneeling  in  his  house  beside  a  child. 
Some  peculiar  emotion  touched  him  deeply,  a  vision  of 
motherhood  glorified  with  her  tenderness,  —  a  lovely 
mother  and  a  lovely  child.  He  had  seen  it ;  but  it  had 
never  been  his. 

"Bertie,  my  child,  where  was  the  pain?"  But  Bertie 
only  moaned  ;  and  his  father  felt  quite  helpless. 

"Nelly,  you  are  making  me  chicken-hearted,"  he  said 
with  a  little  tremble  in  his  tone.  "I  think  I  had  better 
send  you  away  as  well." 

"  The  child  ought  to  be  undressed.  Will  3rou  keep 
him  down  here  all  night?" 

"  Bertie,"  and  his  father's  hand  was  laid  on  his  shoul 
der,  tenderly  now  as  any  woman's,  "  my  son,  you  must 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  165 

be  a  brave  little  fellow,  and  let  me  see  if  you  are  injured 
elsewhere  than  in  the  arm.  — Yes,  if  you  could  get  his 
wrapper,  Nelly." 

Nelly  ran  up  stairs ;  and  Miss  Grove  handed  it  out 
with  a  severely  indignant  sniff.  Then  she  brought  down 
one  of  her  own  pretty  cologne-bottles  that  Bertie  admired 
so  much.  Dr.  Kinnard  had  been  coaxing  him  gently,  and 
now  lifted  up  his  shoulder ;  but,  uttering  an  excruciating 
cry,  the  child  fainted  quite  away. 

"  Quick,  Nelly,  take  off  his  clothes.  There  is  some 
thing  very  serious,  I  fear." 

With  deft  and  rapid  fingers,  she  disrobed  him,  and, 
with  the  doctor's  assistance,  put  on  the  wrapper.  Con 
sciousness  being  restored,  he  began  a  brief  examination. 
There  was  an  internal  injury ;  but  whether  it  was  merely 
the  jar  of  the  fall,  or  something  more  critical,  could  not 
as  yet  be  told. 

Bertie  cried,  and  shrank  from  the  handling,  gentle  as  it 
was ;  but  Nelly's  sweet  voice  comforted  and  re-assured 
with  a  bravery  not  above  the  child's  comprehension. 
She  kissed  him,  too,  with  a  soothing  tenderness  that 
quite  magnetized  him. 

"  I  think  I  will  go  out,  and  question  Mat  a  moment. 
You  seem  to  be  doing  very  well  with  him." 

But  Mat  could  throw  no  further  light  upon  the  subject. 
Bertie  had  climbed  to  the  loft,  and  must  have  made  a  mis 
step,  as  there  was  no  floor  laid  there.  Mat  had  found 
him  lying  on  his  side,  insensible,  brought  him  into  the 
house,  and  gone  imrnediatety  for  Dr.  Searles,  who  thought 
there  was  no  damage  done  beside  the  fractured  arm  and 
a  few  bruises.  He  had  not  complained  much  until 
within  an  hour,  though  he  had  refused  utterly  to  be  taken 
up  stairs. 

"  I  must  wait  a  day  or  two  before  I  decide,"  the  doctor 
said  as  he  returned  to  Nelly,  who  was  holding  the  child's 
hand.  "  And  now,  my  dear  girl,  had  you  not  better 


166  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

make  some  preparation  for  retiring?  It  is  nearly  eleven. 
I  shall  roll  the  other  lounge  in  here,  though  I  do  not 
think  I  will  have  to  watch  absolutely." 

"  Oh,  let  me  stay  with  you  !  "  she  pleaded. 

"  There  is  no  need ;  and  I  would  rather  have  you  get  a 
good  night's  sleep." 

"  I  am  so  glad  I  came  !  " 

"Why,  you  must  have  had  a  presentiment.  Thank 
heaven  you  are  here!"  he  said  fervently,  kissing  the 
bright  cheek. 

But  Bertie  would  not  so  easily  relinquish  his  hold. 
Scarlet  flushes  were  succeeding  the  deadty  pallor ;  and  he 
moved  his  head  uneasily,  crying  out  now  and  then  with 
pain,  and  insisting  on  Nelly's  keeping  close  beside  him. 
"Don't  let  her  take  me  away!"  he  would  exclaim 
vehemently. 

"  I  had  better  stay  for  a  while,"  she  said  in  a  quiet 
tone.  Then  she  hushed  him,  singing  some  childish  hymn 
in  her  low  soothing  voice.  The  fever  was  coming  on 
rapidly,  and  with  it  delirium.  Dr.  Kinnard  sat  grave 
and  thoughtful.  He  had  never  seen  his  own  children 
seriously  ill.  To  a  man  of  his  theorizing  and  speculative 
turn  of  mind,  Nelly  presented  an  entertaining  study  as 
she  lingered  there  in  the  dim  light,  watching  the  child,  a 
bit  of  faded  flower  in  her  dark  hair,  that  Gertrude  had 
placed  in  it  before  dinner,  the  ruff  of  soft,  wraith-like 
illusion  around  her  shapely  neck,  the  fair  and  slender 
hands,  untiring  it  seemed  to  him.  How  different  women 
were  !  He  had  seen  many  mothers, — fond,  tender,  indul 
gent  ;  wise  and  foolish  mothers,  careless  and  indifferent 
ones,  and  others  who  seemed  to  take  their  children  as  a 
special  grievance.  He  remembered  well  one  who  had 
done  so.  From  their  birth,  they  had  been  banished  to  the 
nursery.  He  generally  found  them  crying  or  asleep  in  his 
brief  visits.  And  he  had  never  been,  made  very  welcome 
there.  She  could  not  endure  to  have  him  bestow  any 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  167 

attention  on  the  children  ;  indeed,  she  took  every  courtesy 
proffered  to  any  one  else  as  a  personal  affront.  Yet 
people  outside  had  often  found  her  very  charming. 

True,  he  might  have  grown  fond  of  them  afterward  ; 
but  —  well,  he  had  not  cared.  It  brought  a  flush  to  his 
cheek  as  he  remembered  it.  Aunt  Adelaide  was  peculiar 
too.  Authority  was  the  one  thing  she  did  not  desire  to 
share.  She  had  her  own  ideas,  her  own  plans,  her  own 
waj's,  matured,  she  fancied,  after  much  thought  and  ex 
perience.  But  how  much  of  the  vaunted  experience  of  this 
life  is  simply  a  determination  to  carry  out  one's  will,  to 
have  one's  own  way,  and  bend  others  to  it !  And  so  she 
wanted  people  to  be  good  and  happy  after  her  set  plan. 
No  bed  of  Procrustes  was  ever  more  rigid.  She  lopped 
off  mercilessly.  She  compressed,  flattened,  stretched 
out,  when  there  was  really  nothing  to  stretch.  With 
Maud  she  had  succeeded  very  well.  The  child  was 
ladylike  and  high  bred,  as  she  considered  high  breeding. 
She  knew  more  than  most  girls  of  her  age :  she  had  no 
foolish  passion  for  dolls,  or  fairy-stories,  or  rude  boisterous 
plays.  Already  she  was  a  miniature  woman,  could  de 
tect  imitation  laces  from  real,  and  was  quite  a  judge  of 
silks  and  velvets,  and  very  free  to  criticise  the  attire  of 
any  one  in  which  there  was  any  make-believe.  But  what 
of  the  poor  starved  little  soul  that  never  even  knew  the 
divine  hungering  for  love? 

Dr.  Kinnard  had  not  been  blind  to  all  this,  it  was 
true.  Still  he  had  a  great  respect  for  Aunt  Adelaide's 
love.  He  had  seen  the  working  of  stepmothers  in 
more  than  one  family ;  and  his  mind  had  in  it  the  breadth 
of  patience  that  can  respect  another's  prejudices.  He 
would  not  hurry  her  faith  in  Nelly's  capacities  ;  neither 
would  he  burthen  Nelly  with  so  much  in  the  beginning. 
There  was  a  little  selfishness  in  that.  He  wanted  her 
time,  her  attention,  and  sweetness  for  the  present.  No 
one  had  ever  ministered  to  him  in  this  delightful  fashion. 


168  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

Ah,  Nelly  !  you  never  guessed  how  miser  like  he  treasured 
up  every  smile,  every  caress,  and  called  himself  an  old 
idiot  for  so  doing. 

But,  as  he.  watched  her  there,  he  did  not  grudge  the 
kisses.  Something  seemed  awakening  within  him,  tardi 
ly,  as  if  after  a  long  sleep.  Had  he  ever  felt  the  rapture 
over  his  children  that  he  had  seen  men  indulge  in  ?  And 
why?  He  would  suffer  physical  pain  for  them,  hunger, 
cold,  labor,  if  need  were.  He  would  gladly  take  Bertie's 
place,  and  endure  courageously  the  few  weeks'  suffering : 
why  not  that  deep,  exquisite  emotion,  that  thrill  of 
fatherhood?  And  Nelly  there  was  playing  at  imaginary 
motherhood.  He  could  see  the  soft  flushes  rise  in  her 
face,  the  struggle  of  girlish  bashfulness,  the  fear  of  taking 
too  much  of  another  woman's  child.  If  her  own  were 
in  her  arms,  —  her  own  as  entrancingly  lovely  as  that 
cherub  of  Mrs.  Duncan's. 

He  rose  to  give  Bertie  some  fever-drops.  "  Don't  take 
me  away!  "  the  child  screamed,  clinging  to  her:  so  she 
held  the  spoon,  and  persuaded  him. 

Somewhere  toward  morning  the  stupor  gained  ground  ; 
and  though  Bertie  moaned,  and  cried  out  occasionally,  he 
could  no  longer  distinguish  between  them. 

"Now  you  must  go  to  bed,  Nelly,"  the  doctor  said, 
taking  her  in  his  arms,  and  kissing  the  tired  face  fondly. 
"There  will  be  nursing  enough  after  to-night;  for  I  am 
afraid  the  poor  little  chap  is  not  to  get  off  so  easily.  If 
he  is  very  restless,  I  promise  to  call  you.  Can  you  not 
trust  him  to  me?  " 

Something  in  his  voice  caused  her  to  glance  up.  Was 
there  a  new  tenderness  in  his  shady  eyes?  He  flushed  at 
her  unspoken  question. 

"Yes,"  he  said,  "I  may  have  been  too  well  satisfied 
to  have  them  crowded  out.  How  did  your  heart  fill  with 
this  tender,  bounteous  love,  my  darling  ?  You  shower  it 
broadcast,  as  if  there  never  could  be  any  lack." 


ISTELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  169 

"There   cannot  be,  since   it  is   of  God,   who   giveth 
liberally." 

They   stood  in   silence   for  many  minutes,    then    she 
kissed  him  good-night  softly,  and  went  away. 

Like  a  dim  dream,  some  sentence  heard  in  an  idle  hour 
floated  back  to  him,  —  "A  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus." 
What  was  this  abounding  faith  of  Nelly's? 
16 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

"  Life  counts  not  hours  by  joys  or  pangs, 
But  just  by  duties  done." 

DR.  KINNARD'S  words  proved  too  sadly  true.  There 
was  nursing  enough  in  store  for  Nelly.  By  the  next 
morning  the  fever  had  gained  rapid  headway.  Dr. 
Searles  came  over,  and  found  there  had  been  not  a  little 
congestion  from  the  force  of  the  fall.  That  there  was 
something  besides,  was  painfully  evident.  Even  at  the 
height  of  delirium  and  apparent  unconsciousness,  he 
would  scream  if  moved  from  certain  positions. 

The  "den"  was  speedily  turned  into  a  sick-room.  It 
made  less  going  up  and  down  stairs,  and  was  a  very 
quiet  place  at  this  season  of  the  year ;  there  being  fewer 
office-callers  for  pleasure.  Nelly  had  the  kitchen  at  her 
command,  and  chance  visitors  also ;  and  the  doctor  found 
it  more  convenient  than  an  upstairs  room. 

Thus  passed  a  fortnight  in  anxious  suspense.  Aunt 
Adelaide  affected  to  disbelieve  in  the  danger,  and  felt  still 
more  offended  when  piano  practice  was  interdicted. 
Under  other  circumstances,  no  doubt  but  that  she  would 
have  compelled  the  house  to  bow  down  to  the  illness  of 
one  of  my  "  poor  sister's  children  ;  "  but  now  her  injured 
dignity  was  paramount. 

Mother  Kinnard  was  quite  frightened.  Deaths  and 
funerals  filled  her  with  nervous  apprehension  and  dread. 
Something  in  Nelly's  devotion  touched  her ;  and,  in  her 
secret  heart,  she  admitted  the  child's  own  mother  would 
not  so  have  spent  herself. 

170 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  171 

"Why  should  she  not?"  said  Aunt  Adelaide  tartly. 
"  Before  she  came  in  the  house,  Herbert  never  thought  of 
disobeying  me.  It  was  the  result  of  her  foolish  indul 
gence  ;  and  she  ought  to  suffer  for  it." 

"Stepmothers  haven't  the  name  of  being  indulgent 
usual!}',"  returned  Mrs.  Kinnard  rather  dryly. 

"  Any  one  can  see  that  it  is  done  for  effect.  When 
she  comes  to  have  children,  '  my  dear  Bertie '  will  be 
pushed  aside  quickly  enough,"  was  the  scornful  re 
joinder. 

"  Barton,"  she  said  one  morning,  stopping  her  brother- 
in-law  in  the  hall,  "  there  is  one  subject  on  which  I  want 
to  speak.  If  Herbert  should  die,  I  believe  you  are  his 
natural  heir ;  but  I  think  his  portion  ought  to  go  to 
Maud.  It  was  my  '  poor  dear  sister's  '  money." 

" Hang  the  money  !"  he  flung  out  angrily.  "Do  you 
suppose  I  would  touch  a  penny  of  it  if  I  was  starving  ? 
I  wish  there  had  never  been  a  dollar !  Never  mention 
it  to  me  again." 

But  Bertie  did  not  die.  He  seemed  to  go  to  the  very 
verge  of  the  grave.  There  was  one  night  when  his  father 
sat  by  him,  administering  stimulants,  and  counting  the 
faint  pulsation.  His  child !  How  strange  it  seemed ! 

He  inherited  his  father's  constitution  ;  and  the  freedom 
of  the  j'ear,  with  active  exercise,  had  strengthened  it 
greatly,  for  it  had  been  somewhat  injured  by  an  injudi 
cious  childhood.  So  he  came  feebly  back  to  life,  lay  wan 
and  white  for  many  days,  dependent  as  a  baby  on  Nelly's 
motherly  care.  She  fed  him,  she  bathed  the  shrunken 
limbs,  read  to  him,  or  sang,  watching  every  change  in 
the  pale  face,  so  little  now,  so  spiritualized,  until  she 
began  to  think  him  absolutely  prett}r :  at  least,  he  had 
his  father's  fine  eyes,  all  the  more  noticeable  now  that  the 
stupid  look  had  gone  out  of  them.  There  came  into 
Nelly's  heart  an  earnest  sympathy,  a  tender  love,  a  desire 
to  fill  a  mother's  place  truly,  and  train  the  neglected 


172  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

heart  to  better  uses  than  the  repressed  and  chilling  years 
had  known. 

And  the  worst  had  not  yet  been  confessed.  For  a  while 
Dr.  Kinnard  had  feared  it ;  and,  taking  Dr.  Searles  into 
counsel,  they  had  made  a  painful  examination  to  find 
that  the  joint  of  the  hip  had  been  injured  by  striking  hard 
upon  it. 

"And  my  poor  boy  will  be  lame  for  life!"  he  ex 
claimed  with  passionate  regret.  "  O  Bertie  !  if  you  had 
not  been  "  —  and  then  he  checked  himself. 

That  evening  he  confessed  to  Nelly  the  certainty. 

' '  Oh !  are  you  sure  ?  Can  nothing  be  done  ?  Lame 
for  life !  " 

Dr.  Kinnard  walked  up  and  down  the  office  with  his 
hands  clasped  behind  him,  his  brain  in  a  chaos  of  unrea 
son.  Why  should  this  be  sent  upon  him?  All  his  life, 
so  far,  there  had  been  something,  —  a  thorn  in  the  flesh  to 
wound  him. 

Nelly  slipped  one  hand  within  his,  and  leaned  her  head 
upon  his  shoulder. 

"  Barton,"  she  said  softly,  "it  is  verj^,  very  hard  for 
you  to  bear,  I  know.  And  yet  there  is  some  wisdom 
in  it  that  will  be  shown  us  after  a  while.  I  think  you 
have  begun  to  love  him  better ;  and  this  very  love  will 
bring  with  it  a  grace." 

He  took  the  fair  face  in  both  hands,  kissed  brow  and 
lips,  and  she  saw  there  were  tears  in  his  e}Tes. 

"  Let  me  comfort  you,"  she  cried.  "Perhaps  God 
gave  me  to  you  for  this  purpose.  For  the  next  few  years 
he  will  sorely  need  a  mother's  affection  and  patience ; 
and  so  I  have  found  my  work,  my  duty." 

"  And  j'ou  welcome  it?  O  Nelly!  you  have  reached  a 
height  quite  beyond  me.  I  can  only  see  the  wearisome, 
disappointing  present.  Bertie  was  not  a  dull  scholar ; 
Mr.  Herrick  said  so.  I  thought  to  take  a  pride  in  him  as 
he  grew  older,  —  to  send  him  to  college,  to  give  him  a 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  173 

profession,  or  establish  him  in  business,  to  make  a  man 
of  him  ;  and  Heaven  knows  there  is  sore  enough  need  of 
true,  strong  men  in-  this  world.  How  can  I  endure  "  — 

"It  may  not  be  so  bad.  Bertie"  is  a  child  yet;  and 
there  is  a  hope  of  his  outgrowing  it." 

"Hardly,  if  this  should  be  a  confirmed  case  of  hip- 
disease.  And,  Nelly,  it  is  weak,  wicked  perhaps ;  but  I 
have  a  shrinking  from  all  kinds  of  deformity  and  lame 
ness.  I  pity  any  one  profoundly ;  but  I  am  always 
thankful  that  it  is  not  mine.  And  now  it  has  come  to 
me.  If  I  had  listened,  and  let  you  take  him  home  "  — 

Nelly  had  thought  of  it  many  times.  It  had  been  on 
her  lips  that  first  evening ;  but  it  seemed  too  much  of  a 
reproach  to  utter. 

"You  shall  not  blame  yourself,"  she  cried.  "I  am 
not  quite  sure  that  I  wanted  to  take  him.  And  we  must 
not  hurry  God's  meanings,  or  distrust  them,  but  feel  that 
there  is  something  in  this  for  us  to  study  or  work  out  for 
a  new  satisfaction.  It  is  the  part  for  to-day  that  concerns 
us  :  next  year  will  bring  its  own  strength.  We  have  to 
do  with  Bertie's  childhood  now ;  and  the  man  he  will 
make  will  be  such  as  pleases  God,  I  hope." 

"My  darling!  " 

"  Perhaps  it  will  not  be  so  bad.  Is  there  no  more 
experienced  authority  to  consult?  " 

' '  I  think  I  will  go  to  the  city.  If  any  thing  can  be 
done !  " 

"  Poor  child,  poor  baby!  for  he  seems  that  now,  with 
his  wan  little  face.  What  suffering  it  would  be,  and  yet 
much  better,  I  suppose,  than  "  — 

"  Oh  !  I  can't  have  him  lame,  and  to  go  limping  about 
all  his  life !  Yes,  I  must  go  to  New  York.  There  are 
two  physicians  in  whom  I  place  great  confidence.  If  an 
operation  is  possible,  it  shall  be  attended  to  without 
delay." 

Nelly  shivered. 
15* 


174  NELLY   KLNoSTABD'S   KINGDOM. 

"Little  tender  heart!  Ah,  at  least  I  did  one  good 
thing,  even  in  my  own  selfishness.  I  have  given  him  a 
mother  such  as  "  — 

Nelly  placed  her  soft  fingers  over  her  husband's  lips. 
She  knew  the  rest  of  the  sentence  would  have  been,  "  such 
as  he  never  had."  But,  in  her  sweet  and  bounteous 
nature,  there  was  no  such  thing  as  grudging  another  any 
due  or  praise,  or  gaining  herself  by  that  other's  dispar 
agement.  And,  somehow,  she  felt  tender  and  pitiful  to 
tho  woman  in  her  grave,  knowing  now  how  she  had 
missed  establishing  herself  in  her  husband's  heart;  ever 
plucking  fruit  that  turned  to  ashes,  and  hewing  out  broken 
cisterns,  when  the  bread  and  wine  of  love's  own  sacrament 
was  within  her  reach. 

"  You  are  right,"  he  said  humbly. 

A  week  afterward  he  went  to  the  city,  and  returned 
with  one  of  his  old  preceptors,  now  an  eminent  and  expe 
rienced  ph}-sician.  If  he  had  ever  such  a  lingering  hope 
of  a  mistake  in  his  own  diagnosis,  it  was  dispelled. 
There  was  an  exceeding  faint  chance  of  tha  child's  out 
growing  it,  with  a  trifling  lameness.  There  was  a  later 
operation,  when  he  had  more  strength  and  maturity ;  but 
the  disease  would  also  have  gained  greater  headway. 
There  was  the  present  operation  with  all  its  risk. 

"  The  most  important  thing  will  be  the  care  afterward. 
I  should  advise  his  being  sent  to  a  hospital,  like  St. 
Luke's  for  instance.  Then  he  would  have  experienced 
nursing,"  said  Dr.  Francis. 

This  opinion  was  imparted  to  Nelly. 

"  Could  you  not  be  as  watchful  of  the  case  as  the  best 
nurse  there?  "  she  asked  of  her  husband. 

"  Of  course.  But  there  are  a  hundred  and  one  little 
things  ;  and  it  will  be  a  very  heavy  tax  on  you." 

"  If  I  were  the  child's  own  mother,  I  hardly  know  how 
I  should  decide ;  but  I  think  then,  I  should  keep  him, 
and  try  my  best.  As  the  case  stands,  I  ask  you  as  a 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  175 

favor  not  to  send  him  away.  He  will  be  nearer  to  us 
both,  if  we  go  with  him  every  step  of  the  sad  way.  If 
you  have  confidence  in  me ' '  — 

"  I  would  trust  my  own  life  in  your  hands,"  was  his 
vehement  answer.  "  Confidence  !  " 

"  Then  let  us  keep  him.  I  should  be  sorry  to  have  the 
world,  or  Aunt  Adelaide,"  and  she  smiled  with  tears  in 
her  eyes,  "think  that  I  was  glad  to  escape  the  solemn 
duties  I  took  upon  myself.  And,  if  any  thing  should  go 
wrong,  we  will  not  look  back  upon  our  decision  regret 
fully." 

"  How  generous  you  are,  Nelly!"  and  he  studied  her 
in  amaze.  "Honestly,  I  would  rather  keep  him  under 
my  own  eye ;  but  it  is  a  great  deal  to  ask  of  one  young 
as  you  are.  It  may  be  a  year  or  two  ;  and  here  is  your 
own  life  ' '  — 

i-'Xarn  young  enough  surely  to  give  away  a  little  of  it. 
Shall  I  not  have  you  and  your  love  to  comfort  and  sus 
tain?  " 

"  God  bless  j-ou,  my  darling !  " 

There  was  coming  into  his  soul  a  solemn  reverence  for 
womanhood.  True,  he  had  seen  it  under  many  phases  ; 
but  it  is  one  thing  to  look  at  a  flower  in  your  neighbor's 
garden,  without  knowing  all  the  particulars  of  soil  and 
culture,  and  quite  another  to  have  it  under  your  very  eye, 
growing  thriftily  through  shine  and  shade,  dispensing 
fragrance  and  beauty  da}r  by  day  in  the  most  bounteous 
manner.  Nothing  under  his  hand  had  ever  so  bloomed  be 
fore.  He  had  believed  that  nearness  dispelled  the  charm  ; 
that  daily  using  brushed  off  the  pink  of  peach,  and  purple 
of  grape  ;  that  household  virtues  throve  oftener  in  books 
than  in  daily  life.  Nelly's  strength  and  sweetness  touched 
him  with  a  dim  amaze  ;  and  he  hardly  dared  place  full 
faith  in  it,  lest  it  should  vanish. 

For  herself,  she  had  become  quite  strongly  attached  to 
Bertie.  She  could  see  how  much  his  training  had  injured 


176  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

him.  With  a  sort  of  moral  cowardice  he  united  great 
persistencj" ;  so  that,  when  he  had  once  told  what  was  not 
true,  he  was  very  apt  to  keep  to  the  stor}',  and  impress  it 
upon  his  hearers.  His  sense  of  injustice  was  veiy  keen  ; 
and  the  s}rstem  of  depriving  him  of  every  possible  pleasure, 
of  being  always  on  the  lookout  for  faults  and  naughti 
ness,  of  showing  that  he  never,  for  a  moment,  was 
trusted,  had  worked  much  evil  in  the  child's  nature. 
There  was  another  point  in  which  Aunt  Adelaide  did  con 
stant  battle.  Bertie  had  a  vein  of  humor  and  drollery  that 
his  aunt  could  not  understand.  She  never  made  jokes, 
and  never  saw  the  point  of  them  ;  and  repartee,  she  con 
sidered,  for  the  most  part,  ill  bred.  All  this  she  called 
impertinence,  and  punished  it  severely ;  until  the  child, 
between  ignorance  and  fear,  had  come  to  have  a  sort  of 
half-stupid  hesitation. 

It  was  such  a  strange,  new  thing  for  him  to  be  caressed, 
that  at  first  he  took  it  with  a  wondering,  half-funny 
complacency.  Miss  Grove  thought  all  such  matters 
simply  foolish,  and  declared  that  she  always  mistrusted 
people  who  were  eager  to  make  such  a  parade,  besides  the 
fact  of  its  being  under-bred.  Her  idea  of  manliness 
seemed  to  be  stoicism.  Unemotional  herself,  and  living 
according  to  a  code  of  formal  rules  that  she  had  gathered 
from  her  very  small  world,  she  fancied,  like  many  narrow- 
minded  people,  that  it  was  adapted  to  age  and  infancy 
alike,  to  any  kind  of  circumstances  and  position.  Maud 
had  never  troubled  her  by  any  excess  of  feeling  ;  but  she 
had  been  fighting  the  tendency  in  Bertie  ever  since  his 
birth.  It  was  her  pride  that  the  children  had  never  been 
ill,  and  that  the3r  knew  more  than  any  children  of  their 
age.  So  that  they  behaved  properly,  what  more  wras 
needed  ? 

Nelly  had  touched  the  deadened  chords  of  the  child's 
soul.  It  was  so  nice  to  be  made  much  of;  to  have  his 
face  and  hands  bathed,  sometimes  with  cologne  at  that ; 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  177 

to  have  his  hair  brushed,  and  Nelly  had  trained  quite  a 
curly  crop  around  his  white  temples  ;  to  have  dainty  little 
meals  served  in  the  sick-room,  just  for  mamma  and  him 
self  ;  to  be  shown  pictures  ;  to  be  read  stories  ;  to  talk  in 
that  changeful,  discursive  style  so  natural  to  children, 
without  having  to  go  over  a  sentence,  apd  pick  out  all  its 
needless  words. 

Not  that  the  child  had  been  transformed  into  an  angel. 
He  was  fretful  and  impatient  at  times,  and  had  restless 
moods,  when  nothing  seemed  to  suit.  Once,  when  he 
was  much  better,  he  proved  exceedingly  troublesome  in 
this  respect ;  and  Nelly,  finding  herself  tired,  and  with 
a  tendency  to  speak  sharply,  bethought  herself  a  moment. 

"  Bertie,"  she  said  in  a  quiet  tone,  "  I  believe  you  are 
tired  of  me  ;  for  what  I  do  fails  to  please  you.  Now  I  am 
going  out  of  the  room  for  half  an  hour  :  look  at  the  clock. 
You  will  be  much  better  alone :  so  good-bj-  for  a  little 
while."  And  she  went  away  with  a  cheerful  smile,  shutting 
the  door  softly  behind  her. 

Bertie  thought  he  did  not  care.  He  was  pillowed  in  a 
corner  of  the  wide  lounge ;  and  for  several  moments  he 
studied  the  fire  in  the  grate,  then  his  book  of  engrav 
ings,  after  that  the  solitaire-board ;  and,  to  his  amaze, 
only  fifteen  minutes  were  gone.  The  clock  ticked  so 
solemnly,  the  cat  would  sleep  on  the  rug ;  and  there  was 
absolutely  nothing  more  to  do.  But  then  mamma  would 
come  in  ten  minutes.  Oh,  how  long  they  were !  He 
tried  to  count  the  seconds,  and  was  quite  sure  there  were 
more  than  sixty. 

Through  it  all  ran  an  undercurrent  of  conscience. 
There  was  no  purely  physical  punishment  or  deprivation, 
but  something  that  stirred  his  deeper  feelings. 

The  door  opened  presently.  "  Do  you  want  me  now, 
Beftie?  "  asked  the  soft  voice. 

"  I  do,  mamma,  please." 

She  entered  with  some  sewing,  and  drew  her  chair  close 


178  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

beside  the  lounge,  saying  cheerfully,  "  What  shall  we 
talk  about,  Bertie?  You  must  have  thought  of  a  great 
many  things." 

"  No:  never  mind  about  talking,  mamma.  I  want  to 
lie  here  and  look  at  you  a  little  while."  Then,  after  a 
silence,  "  How  pretty  you  are,  mamma !  " 

She  blushed,  and  gave  a  little  embarrassed  laugh. 

"  And  you  are  very  good  to  me,  mamma.  I  thought 
—  at  least,  people  say"  (hesitatingly)  —  "that  step 
mothers  never  are  good." 

' '  What  do  you  think  of  it,  Bertie  ? ' '  and  she  raised  her 
grave,  sweet  eyes. 

"It  isn't  true.  I'll  fight  any  boy  at  school  who  ever 
says  it  again;  and  I'll" —  But  what  could  he  do  to 
Aunt  Adelaide  ? 

"No,  my  child:  you  can  do  better  than  that,  —  love 
me  ;  love  papa,  and  obey  him." 

"  I  used  to  feel  so  afraid  of  papa,"  he  went  on  in  a 
half-musing  tone.  "  And  I  am  not  afraid  any  more.  His 
arms  are  so  strong  when  he  lifts  me.  And  he  does  care 
about  me,  doesn't  he?  They  all  said  that  he  wouldn't 
love  Maud  and  me  any  after  j*ou  came." 

"  Which  was  not  true,  as  you  have  found  out  by  this 
time,"  was  her  quiet  comment. 

"  Yes.  Do  you  believe  he  would  buy  me  a  pony  ?  And 
will  I  ever  get  well?  I  asked  him  this  morning." 

"What  did  he  say?"  demanded  Nelly  with  sudden 
earnestness. 

"  That  he  hoped  so.  But  why  does  my  back  keep  so 
weak  and  stiff?  " 

He  was  to  know  ere  long.  They  had  decided  upon 
the  operation,  as  his  general  health  was  quite  restored. 
However,  nothing  was  said  to  him  about  it  until  the  last 
morning.  Ether  was  to  be  given.  Dr.  Francis  and  I)r. 
Searles  came  ;  and  Nelly  kissed  her  boy  with  a  face  that 
was  braver  than  her  heart. 


NELLY  KESTNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  179 

"It's  dreadful !  "  said  Mother  Kinnard,  who  had  soft 
ened  unconsciously  to  Nelly;  "and  I  am  afraid  it  will 
not  do  a  bit  of  good.  I  doubt  if  the  child  lives,  anyhow. 
Tf  he  could  only  have  minded  his  aunt !  Children  were  not 
so  disobedient  in  my  day.  I  don't  believe  Adelaide  will 
ever  get  over  it.  No,  do  not  go  away :  I  am  too  nervous 
to  stay  alone.  I  feel  as  if  we  should  hear,  every  moment, 
that  he  had  died  under  the  operation." 

It  appeared  to  Nelly  as  if  the  inconsequent  and  unceas 
ing  chatter  would  kill  her.  How  she  endured  it  those 
two  mortal  hours,  she  never  knew.  Dr.  Kinnard  entered 
the  room  at  last,  very  pale,  and  with  lips  that  had  not 
yet  lost  the  force  of  their  compression. 

"It  is  through  with,  and  was  very  successful,"  he 
announced  rather  huskily.  ' '  Nelly  y  will  you  see  to 
having  a  little  luncheon?  " 

She  went  about  it  immediately,  but  did  not  question 
him  any  further.  Dr.  Francis  afterwards  gave  her  some 
hints  and  suggestions,  ending  with,  "  He  may  be  deli 
cate  for  a  year  or  two ;  but  I  think  he  will  recover 
entirely." 

And  now  began  another  siege  of  nursing.  They  tried 
to  take  care  of  Nelly,  on  whom  so  much  depended.  Dr. 
Kinnard  insisted  on  her  taking  frequent  rides,  and  having 
cheerful  society.  Daisy  came  *to  stay  with  her  ;  and  little 
Katy  Berkman  was  found  very  useful.  And  thus  Nelly 
Kinnard  reached  the  first  anniversary  of  her  wedding- 
day, —  a  quiet  but  pleasant  time  with  the  home-folks,  and 
Mr.  Dudley,  who  was  getting  to  be  a  great  favorite  with 
the  doctor.  Aunt  Adelaide  condescended  to  be  quite 
gracious  ;  and  Mrs.  Kinnard  said  afterward,  — 

"  What  a  really  delightful  person  your  mother  is,  Nelty  ! 
I  have  a  fancy,  that,  when  she  was  young,  she  looked  a 
great  deal  as  you  do  now." 

Nelly  smiled  at  the  commendation. 

"  My  dear,"  said  Dr.  Kinnard  that  night,  "  I  have  had  a 


180  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

queer  notion  in  ray  head  all  day.  I  believe  I  shall  turn 
match-maker.  I  think  Dudley  is  really  taken  with  your 
sister.  And  what  a  charming  clergyman's  wife  she  would 
make  !  Though  he  is  not  very  rich  in  this  world's  goods  ; 
but  then  your  father  is,  without  doubt,  the  very  happiest 
man  I  have  ever  known.  So  it  is  not  riches." 

"  I  cannot  have  you  mapping  out  Daisy's  life,"  she 
said  rather  confusedty. 

"But,  since  I  have  found  a  treasure,  I  am  anxious  to 
point  out  to  my  brethren  the  wonderful  mine,"  he 
returned  laughingly. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

"  The  ordinary  use  of  acquaintance  is  the  sharing  of  talk,  news, 
and  mirth  together ;  but  sorrow  is  the  right  of  a  friend,  as  a  thing 
nearer  the  heart,  and  to  be  delivered  with  it."  — BISHOP  SELDEX. 

THERE  had  been  quite  a  commotion  in  the  house  with 
shopping  and  dressmakers,  and  plans  for  a  summer  tour. 
Aunt  Adelaide  and  Maud  were  to  go  to  Niagara  and  the 
Lakes  and  Canada,  and  wherever  else  their  fancj7  led  them. 
The  large  trunk  was  packed  at  last,  and  brought  down  to 
the  hall,  and  beside  it  stood  the  smaller  travelling-satchel 
for  present  emergencies.  Maud  was  shooting  up  into  a 
tall  girl,  and  gave  herself  the  airs  of  a  young  lady.  Her 
father  disapproved  of  it ;  but  what  could  he  do  at  present 
with  Bertie  still  a  burthen  on  their  hands?  In  truth, 
Nelly  was  losing  her  bloom  somewhat  with  this  close 
attendance. 

They  said  their  good-bys  at  length,  and  were  off. 
Then  Dr.  Kinnard  bethought  himself  of  what  must  be 
done  for  the  others.  Bertie  had  gone  on  well  for  a  while  ; 
but  it  was  evident  that  he,  too,  needed  a  change. 

"  I  should  try  seaside,''  said  Dr.  Searles.  "  And  Mrs. 
Kinnakl  needs  it  also.  The  child's  limb  is  doing  as 
well  as  can  be  expected ;  but  five  or  six  months  of  this 
would  pull  down  any  little  chap,  or  large  one  either,  for 
that  matter.  He  must  get  his  strength  up  again." 

To  send  them  away  !  To  part  with  Nelly  !  Why,  she 
had  become  stay  and  comfort  and  pleasure  to  him.  How 
had  he  ever  done  without  her?  How  could  he  do  with 
out  her  now  ? 

16  181 


182  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  Bertie,  you  are  an  unconscious  rival,"  he  said  to 
himself  in  a  half-petulant  mood. 

"  The  whole  house  must  be  rendered  subservient  to 
that  child ! ' '  complained  Grandmother  Kiunard.  ' '  I 
don't  see  any  sense  in  it." 

"  But  it  is  his  health,  and  perhaps  his  life,"  pleaded 
Nelly.  "  There  will  be  so  many  after-years  with  us." 

"Will  there?"  and  a  quaint  little  pucker  came  into 
the  doctor's  face. 

The  neighbors  came  in,  and  said  their  say.  Here  and 
there  was  recommended  and  discussed. 

Mrs.  Glyndon  settled  it.  She  had  taken  a  wonderful 
liking  to  the  doctor' s  young  wife  from  the  first ;  and  she 
was  one  of  those  women  with  progressive,  restless,  gener 
ous  natures,  who  wanted  to  bring  all  the  lights  from  under 
the  bushels,  and  set  them  on  hills.  She  had  no  children, 
plenty  of  mone}-,  plenty  of  time,  servants,  and  a  hus 
band  who  was  indulgent,  though  he  laughed  at  her  a 
good  deal,  and  was  much  occupied  with  various  inven 
tions,  alwaj-s  having  some  poor  fellow  in  hand.  And 
then  every  thing  came  right  in  Mrs.  Glyndon' s  way. 
There  are  some  people  fairly  inundated  by  streams  of 
good  fortune,  while  others  are  left  dry  and  barren. 

An  intimate  friend  said  to  her,  — 

"We  are  going  to  Europe  this  summer.  Do  you  not 
want  to  take  our  cottage  at  Severn  Point?  There  is  a 
garden  and  stable,  and  plenty  of  room  everywhere  ;  and 
the  house  is  well  furnished.  It  is  just  a  step  to  the 
beach,  with  excellent  bathing  and  fishing." 

She  had  been  to  the  mountains  and  the  springs,  and 
was  just  wondering  what  there  was  to  amuse  her  this 
summer. 

A  week  after  she  had  taken  her  cottage,  while  she  wag 
considering  what  guests  or  friends  she  would  ask,  she 
met  Dr.  Kinnard  driving  rather  soberly  through  the  town, 
and  stopped  him.  How  Avas  the  boy  progressing  ?  Would 
he  ever  get  well?  And  how  was  Mrs.  Kinnard? 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  183 

"  How  fortunate !  "  when  the  doctor  had  mentioned  the 
seaside  plan.  ' '  You  are  just  the  people  I  was  in  search 
of!  I  shall  drive  straight  out  to  the  house,  and  when  you 
come  home  to  dinner  it  will  be  all  settled.  There,  don't 
ask  a  question,  but  go  industriously  about  your  busi 
ness." 

She  entered  the  house  in  her  usual  breezy  fashion,  hav 
ing  sent  her  horse  down  to  the  barn ;  and  by  dinner 
time  the  plan  was  well  digested.  They  should  go  to 
Severn  Point  with  her.  It  was  on  the  Sound,  and  easy 
of  access  by  rail.  They  would  keep  house  together, 
she  taking  two  servants ;  and  if  Miss  Endicott  would  go 
—  it  was  so  pleasant  to  have  a  3*oung  girl  in  the  family ! 
They  would  each  take  a  horse  and  carriage. 

Dr.  Kinnard  could  pick  no  flaws  for  once.  He  could 
run  down  now  and  then,  and  spend  a  day  or  two,  or 
Sunday ;  and  Mr.  Glyndon  would  be  dropping  in  occa 
sionally.  Providence  seemed  to  have  thrown  it  right  in 
their  way. 

"  I  shall  like  it  so  much  better  than  either  hotel  or 
boarding-house !  "  said  Nelly.  And  Bertie  was  quite 
elated  with  the  idea  of  something  different  from  the  place 
where  he  had  passed  so  much  of  his  life.  Mother  Kiu- 
nard  was  equally  delighted  with  the  opportunity  of  man 
aging  the  house,  and  taking  care  of  her  son. 

"Is  it  any  thing  of  a  fashionable  resort ? ' '  Nelly  had 
asked. 

"  I  really  can't  say,  my  dear.  I  was  there  five  years 
ago,  when  the  Randolphs  first  bought,  their  place.  It 
was  not  very  remarkable  then,  as  to  style ;  but  I  have 
heard,  now  and  then,  of  its  improvements.  There  is  a 
rather  rocky  point  stretching  out  into  the  sound,  and 
then  a  delightful  strip  of  beach,  without  the  usual  glare 
and  sterility  of  seasides  ;  for  right  back  of  the  point  are 
some  pretty  farms,  and  a  range  of  hills,  which  makes 
very  entertaining  driving.  You  cannot  fail  to  like  it." 


184  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

So  the  second  party  made  ready.  Dr.  Kinnard  took 
them  down  ;  and  Mrs.  Glyndon  was  there  beforehand,  to 
welcome  them.  Bertie  was  tired  with  his  journey,  and 
fretful ;  and  Nelly  was  looking  quite  worn.  They  were 
so  glad  to  add  Daisy  Endicott's  cheerful  good-nature  as 
a  kind  of  mental  balance  ! 

But  there  was  the  broad  Sound,  with  the  monotone  of 
the  sea,  and  the  bracing,  salty,  suggestive  flavor,  the 
ripples  and  swells  crested  with  spray.  The  house  stood 
on  a  little. elevation  ;  and  you  had  the  hills  at  the  back ; 
farms,  and  gardens,  and  waving  trees  westward ;  to  the 
south,  the  long,  level  beach  with  cottages  and  hotels  ;  to 
the  east,  the  rocky  point,  that  spread  itself  out  to  twi 
light  purple  in  the  distance ;  and  in  front  of  them  the 
miniature  ocean,  dotted  with  vessels  of  various  kinds. 
Besides  the  railroad  accommodation,  there  was  a  steam 
boat  landing ;  and,  indeed,  it  seemed  quite  a  thriving 
watering-place. 

"I  hope  it  will  give  you  all  some  color,"  said  the 
doctor.  "  I  do  think  you  ought  to  have  some  one  to  help 
with  Bertie.  Daisy,  will  you  promise  to  keep  watch  and 
ward,  and  send  me  word  if  she  doesn't  improve  in  a 
week?  Every  day  you  must  go  out  driving.  And  Bertie, 
my  son,  you  must  not  depend  so  entirely  upon  mamma. 
I  am  afraid  you  are  spoiling  him,  Nelly :  you  are  over 
conscientious." 

Nelly  smiled  a  little.  All  along  she  had  understood 
how  much  more  than  mere  physical  care  was  needed. 

They  soon  settled  themselves  in  their  new  abode.  It 
was  indeed  roomy ;  a  great  hall  through  the  middle,  that 
reminded  her  of  home.  Two  rooms  on  one  side  were  to 
be  devoted  to  her  ;  for,  though  Bertie  could  get  about  on 
a  crutch,  it  was  not  deemed  advisable  to  have  him  go  up 
stairs.  Opposite  were  reception  and  dining  rooms,  and 
large  airy  chambers  above.  Daisy  took  the  one  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs,  so  as  to  be  within  call.  Mrs.  Glyndon 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  185 

had  brought  a  man  and  two  maids  ;  so  that  there  really 
was  nothing  for.  Nelly  to  add  in  that  respect. 

Bertie  was  delighted  with  the  drive  on  the  beach  the« 
next  morning.  Daisy  took  him  out,  while  Nelly  unpacked, 
and  put  her  house  in  order.  She  admitted  to  herself  that 
she  did  feel  very  languid.  Six  months  of  wear  and 
anxiety  told  their  story.  Where  was  the  blooming  girl- 
face  of  a  year  ago  ? 

Did  she  regret  the  service  that  had  taken  its  roundness 
and  color  ?  No  :  she  was  glad  to  give  it,  to  win  the  child's 
soul  and  the  child's  love,  to  awaken  the  chilled  pulses  into 
new  life,  to  give  him  back  to  his  father  in  glad  surprise 
as  something  different  and  richer  than  before. 

But  she  was  thankful  to  have  a  little  rest  for  a  few 
da}-s.  .  There  were  so  many  objects  of  interest,  that  Daisy 
quite  sufficed  the  invalid  for  the  present. 

Mrs.  Glyndon  returned  one  afternoon,  especially  impor 
tant,  her  face  radiant  with  pleasure  and  success. 

"  My  dear,"  she  began,  "  do  you  mean  to  get  rested 
up,  and  ever  have  that  pretty  peach-bloom  again  ?  I  want 
to  see  you  bright  and  sparkling  once  more  ;  for  we  are 
going  to  have  just  the  nicest  summer  imaginable.  I  am 
so  glad  we  came  to  Severn  Point !  I  declare,  it  has  all 
come  around  like  a  novel !  " 

"  What  has?  "  asked  Nelly  smilingly. 

"  Well,  events  —  and  people,"  with  a  little  pause 
between.  "  Why,  I  have  found  a  whole  settlement  of 
old  friends  !  When  I  was  in  New  York  last  winter,  I  just 
happened  upon  a  charming  clique,  —  two  or  three  artists, 
some  literary  people,  and  some  —  shall  I  say  strong-minded 
women?  Not  of  the  ultra  type,  though  one  of  them  is 
studying  medicine,  I  believe ;  and  another  has  a  sort  of 
professorship  or  higher  teachership  in  a  college  at  the 
moon,  or  among  the  planets.  They  are  cultured  and 
refined  people,  and  up  in  all  charming  society  ways.  So, 
just  as  soon  as  you  are  in  the  humor,  I  want  to  give  a 

16* 


186  NELLY  KESTNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

little  tea,  —  rather  Frenchy  and  enjoyable,  with  the  best 
of  it  in  talk.  I  hate  crowds  where  people  do  nothing 
•but  stuff  themselves." 

"You  need  not  wait  on  my  account,"  returned  Nelly. 
"  I  think  I  shall  not  care  very  much  for  society." 

"Nonsense!  at  one  and  twenty  too.  You  need  a 
good  mental  shaking  up  and  rousing.  I  should  think 
you  would  have  grown  rusty  and  dull ;  though,  with  that 
stiff  Aunt  Adelaide,  and  old  Mrs.  Kinnard,  to  say  noth 
ing  of  troublesome  Bertie —  No,  don't  hold  up  j-ourhand 
in  that  threatening  fashion :  it  is  a  pretty  white  hand, 
and  I  noticed  it  long  ago.  You  do  not  know  that  Dr. 
Kinnard  gave  you  over  into  my  power,  and  begged  me  to 
keep  you  from  getting  dull.  You  must  la}^  in  a  stock  of 
roses  and  ideas  for  next  winter.  Perhaps  Miss  Grove 
will  fall  and  break  her  back,  (who  knows  ?)  and  3*ou  may 
see  a  good  opening  to  heap  coals  of  fire  upon  her  head, 
though  be  careful  of  her  hair.  It  is  growing  rather  thin, 
I  noticed." 

Nelly  laughed  outright  then,  amused  at  her  friend's 
manner. 

"  There,  that  is  something  like  it.  I  am  invited  over 
to  the  hotel  to-morrow  to  dinner.  If  you  did  not  mind,  I 
should  like  to  take  Daisy,  she  is  so  sweet  and  fresh, 
though  she  doesn't  compare  with  you  in  looks.  And 
then,  as  I  said,  I  shall  give  a  little  entertainment  here." 

Daisy  was  pleased  with  her  invitation  ;  and  Nelly  set 
about  making  her  as  pretty  as  possible.  At  half-past 
seven  they  set  out,  and  then  it  was  Bertie's  bed-time. 
He  said  his  prayers  reverentially,  and  kissed  her  many 
times. 

"Won't  you  stay  with  me  a  little  while,"  he  asked, 
"  since  they  are  all  gone  out?  "  and  so  she  sat  by  the  cot, 
and  talked  until  he  fell  fast  asleep. 

It  was  midnight  when  the  revellers  returned.  NelljT  had 
been  lying  on  the  sofa  in  a  wrapper.  She  experienced  an 


NELLY  KINKAED'S  KINGDOM.  187 

odd,  motherly  feeling   and  interest  in  Daisy,  as  if  she 
were  a  decade  older,  rather  than  three  years.     And,  like 
a  child,  she  came  in  to  talk  over  her  enjoyment.     It  had* 
been  just  lovely. 

"And  the  hero  of  the  evening  danced  with  her:  I 
may  as  well  tell  you  all  her  triumphs.  There,  now,  not 
another  word !  —  Mrs.  Kinnard,  you  should  have  been  in 
bed  two  hours  ago." 

So  Dais}'  was  warmly  enlisted  in  the  tea-party.  They 
made  out  a  list  the  next  morning,  and  wrote  the  invita 
tions.  Then,  in  the  afternoon,  they  were  to  go  to  a  beach 
picnic,  and  to-morrow  out  rowing,  which  would  finish  the 
week. 

"  And  you'll  drive  with  me,  mamma?  "  says  Bertie  in  a 
glow  of  delight. 

"  Then  you  don't  love  me  best  of  all?  "  cries  Daisy, 
making  a  dainty  little  moue  at  him. 

"  I  love  you  a  great  deal ;  but  I  don't  quite  think  it  is 
best  of  all.  But  then,  you  see,  she  is  my  mamma ;  "  and 
he  looks  up,  much  relieved  at  finding  so  good  and  respon 
sible  a  reason. 

Down  on  the  beach  they  go  in  the  pony  phaeton  ;  and 
Bertie  is  allowed  to  drive.  Jenny  is  as  gentle  as  a  road 
side  cow.  There  are  not  a  great  many  out,  mostly  elderly 
people  and  young  children,  for  whom  the  picnic  has  no 
charms,  or  forbidden  ones. 

Nelly  sits  there,  and  dreams.  How  long  the  time 
appears  since  she  parted  from  her  husband !  She  has 
heard,  and  all  is  going  on  nicely ;  but  she  misses  him 
much  more  than  she  would  like  to  admit.  She  has  grown 
to  love  him  very  much,  and  he  has  come  to  depend  on 
her  for  so  many  things.  She  wondered,  a  year  ago, 
whether  she  could  ever  be  useful  to  him,  and,  ah !  now 
she  is  quite  necessary.  Oh  ! 

It  was  all  just  like  a  flash.  A  stj'lish  turnout,  contain 
ing  two  very  young  men  with  a  spirited  horse,  had  borne 


188  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

down  upon  them  ;  and  Bertie,  in  the  moment's  confusion, 
had  checked  to  the  left,  instead  of  the  right.  A  hand  had 
been  interposed,  and  there  they  stood,  quiet,  out  of  possi 
ble  danger ;  but  her  heart  beat  rapidly,  and  her  face 
flushed  with  that  lovety,  peachy  glow  so  admired  by  Mrs. 
Glj'ndon. 

"I  am  very  much  indebted.  Allow  me  to  thank  you 
most  sincere!}7 ; ' '  and  she  bent  over  a  trifle  to  look  at 
their  preserver.  "  It  was  unpardonably  careless  in  me." 

"  The  carelessness  was  on  the  other  side.  Do  not  blame 
yourself  in  the  slightest.  I  am  happy  to  have  been  at 
your  service,  even  in  this  trifle  ;  "  and  he  bowed. 

She  bowed  too,  then  glanced  back,  and  found  him  doing 
the  same  thing,  as  often  happens. 

"  How  handsome  he  was,  mamma  !  "as  handsome  as 
—  as  you  are.  What  was  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Let  me  drive  a  little  while.  It  was  nothing  much ; " 
for  she  did  not  want  to  stamp  the  incident  with  any 
significance. 

A  handsome  man,  Bertie  had  spoken  truly.  Tall, 
supple,  and  graceful,  abounding  in  the  tints  that  are  not 
blonde,  yet  far  from  the  other  extreme  ;  bronze-brown  as 
to  hair  and  beard,  though  at  present  he  wore  only  a 
mustache,  which  was  silken-soft  and  fine  ;  a  clear  com 
plexion  just  a  trifle  sunburnt ;  a  broad,  dimpled  chin  ;  a 
straight,  rather  haughty  nose  ;  and  eyes  of  so  dark  a  gray 
as  to  be  nearly  black.  She  wondered  why  she  remem 
bered  him  like  a  picture.  It  was  not  all  gratitude  ;  for 
now  she  was  not  sure  there  had  been  an}'  real  danger. 

There  was  an  early  moon  ;  and  the  picnic  party  did  not 
reach  home  until  after  ten.  Some  one  had  persuaded  an 
old  colored  fiddler  to  come  down  after  sunset ;  and  the 
merry  party  had  wound  up  with  dancing  on  the  smooth, 
hard  beach. 

"And  Daisy  is  getting  to  be  an  absolute  belle.  She 
alwa}~s  begins  so  shyly,  and  colors  up  in  the  most  tempt- 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  189 

ing  way  ;  and  the  men  who  are  sick  and  tired  of  the  last 
seven-years'  blossoms  are  drawn  to  her  like  so  many 
bees.  And  she  deals  out  ever  such  a  little  bit  of  sweet 
ness  :  if  she  had  practised  half  a  dozen  seasons,  she  could 
not  do  better." 

"  O  Mrs.  Glyndon  !  "  cried  Daisy,  in  blushing  dismay. 

"You  have  the  right  of  it,  Daisy.  —  No,  Mrs.  Kinnard, 
there  are  to  be  no  lectures  in  this  house,  but  what  I  give 
nryself.  I  am  commander-in-chief  in  a  direct  line.  — And, 
Dais}',  youth  is  the  time  when  you  gather  roses,  and  take 
pleasures,  as  you  do  sunshine.  Don't  ever  give  out  more 
than  a  bit  of  sweetness  :  they  are  not  worth  it,  —  the  very 
best  of  them.  Just  think  of  them  as  of  the  picnic  to-day  : 
that  was  very  nice  indeed,  and  there  let  it  end.  Some 
thing  new  will  come  to-morrow,  it  always  does.  But  a 
young  girl  should  be  able  to  sleep  soundly  upon  it,  and 
not  lay  any  greater  burthen  on  her  pillow  than  rolls  off 
in  her  first  nap.  Now  run  to  bed." 

Mrs.  Glj-ndon  lingered  a  moment  to  quiet  any  fears 
Mrs.  Kinnard  might  indulge  in  foolishly. 

"Innocence  is  the  very  best  protection  the  child  can 
have,"  she  said  earnestly.  "  She  thinks  she  is  not 
specially  pretty,  and  that  no  one  will  be  caring  to  fall  in 
love  with  her :  so  she  may  as  well  go  on  thinking  it,  and 
have  a  delightful  summer.  To  put  her  on  her  guard  will 
give  her  an  unpleasant  consciousness,  and  make  her  sus 
picious  of  every  thing  that  is  said.  Just  let  her  alone." 

Nelly  thought  of  it  a  long  while  after  she  was  in  bed. 
She  must  be  elder  sister  in  turn,  as  Rose  and  Fanny  had 
been  to  her.  No,  Daisy  was  not  beautiful ;  and  yet  how 
pretty  she  had  looked  to-night  with  that  sort  of  fire 
fly  glow  in  her  eyes,  and  her  red  lips  full  of  smiling 
curves.  But  there  were  handsome  and  brilliant  women 
here  ;  and  it  was  not  likel}"  any  crowd  would  flutter  about 
this  meek  little  dove.  If  only  Daisy  —  but  then  Daisy 
had  good  sense.  She  had  not  been  much  elated  over  Mr. 


190  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

Dudley's  coming  and  going,  and  driving  her  to  the 
village,  or  to  see  poor  women,  or  a  sunset  here,  or  a  bit 
of  spring  greenery  and  bloom  there.  No  :  she  had  taken 
it  in  that  pleasant,  friendly  manner,  ending,  but  not 
bothering  her  brains  as  to  whether  every  word  had  a 
meaning.  Yes,  it  was  best  so.  Simple,  sweet,  and  fresh, 
not  made  suspicious  or  worldly  wise :  if  love  came,  wel 
coming  it ;  and,  if  not,  losing  none  of  the  fairer  womanly 
graces.  And  yet  she  resolved  to  watch  a  little,  that  no 
enemy  might  creep  in  unawares. 

Then  the  rowing-party  came  off;  and  Mrs.  Glyndon 
insisted  upon  their  both  resting  up,  and  using  plentiful 
lotions  of  cream  and  rose-glycerine  to  be  in  nice  order 
for  her  evening. 

She  had  a  "way"  of  doing  things  with  a  grace  and 
newness  that  made  you  almost  believe  you  had  never 
seen  any  thing  of  the  kind  before.  The  shutters  were 
all  open,  and  the  lights  streamed  about  outside,  while 
within  came  wafts  of  the  sea,  of  the  cool,  twilight  air,  of 
the  pungent,  aromatic  pines  ;  and  inside  she  had  massed 
great  bunches  of  grass-heads,  and  wheat  and  oats,  and 
quantities  of  sweet-clover,  that  she  had  been  half  the 
day  hunting  up.  And 'in  among  these  feather-grasses 
she  had  placed  half  a  dozen  scarlet  poppies  ;  there  some 
flaming  lilies  ;  here  a  few  cool-looking  ferns  and  meadow- 
daisies  ;  and  over  there  a  great  trail  of  old-fashioned 
woodbine,  with  its  clusters  of  minute  red  trumpets,  lined 
with  a  soft,  yellow-like  gold.  The  sofas  and  chairs  were 
pulled  out  of  corners,  and  looked  sociable  by  themselves. 
There  was  a  feeling  of  rest  and  refreshing.  The  com 
pany  dropped  down  into  little  clusters,  gathered  into 
knots,  rambled  through  hall  and  dining-room  ;  for  there 
was  no  formal  table  set.  They  laughed  and  talked,  — 
sciences,  politics,  newspapers,  new  books,  fashions,  health, 
the  attractions  of  Severn  Point,  of  Newport,  of  Yosemite 
Valley,  and  Germany.  Then  the  tea  was  brought  in,  and 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  191 

diffused  a  fragrant  flavor.  The  little  tables  were  arranged 
here  and  there.  The  gentlemen  carried  the  tea  after  Mrr-.. 
Gtyndon  poured  it ;  and  some  of  the  younger  ladies 
handed  plates  of  dainty  sandwiches,  creamy  biscuit, 
Graham  gems,  cake  and  berries ;  and  after  this  was 
eaten,  and  the  dishes  taken  away,  which  a  light-footed 
servant  accomplished  without  much  clatter,  the  cream 
was  brought  in. 

Early  in  the  evening  Mrs.  Glyndon  had  brought  one 
very  noticeable  gentleman  to  Mrs.  Kinnard,  and  intro 
duced  him  as  Mr.  Van  Alst3'ne.  They  did  more  than 
bow  :  they  shook  hands  cordially. 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  meet  you,  Mrs.  Kinnard,"  he  said 
with  a  smile  that  was  friendhy  and  charming. 

"And  I  hope  you  did  not  consider  me  ungracious  a 
few  da\-s  ago,  when  you  did  me  such  a  —  kindness." 

"  That  is  just  what  it  was,  and  aZZ,"  he  returned 
pointedly.  "  There  was  no  danger ;  only  3'our  horse 
might  have  started  suddenly.  And  please  do  not 
imagine  that  I  did  any  thing  at  all  heroic.  Indeed,  upon 
looking  at  your  horse  afterward,  I  felt  that  it  would  not 
have  been  startled  in  a  greater  peril." 

"Is  that  meant  for  a  libel  upon  Jenny?  She  is  the 
gentlest  creature  in  the  world,  and  very  intelligent  too." 

"  If  she  had  been  fien-,  there  might  have  been  danger. 
And  who  was  that  pale  little  boy  ?  —  your  brother  ? ' ' 

She  colored  and  laughed,  with  a  dainty  embarrassment. 

"  It  is  my  son,  or,  at  least,  Dr.  Kinnard' s  son." 

"  Oh  !  "  and  he,  in  turn,  flushed.  But  just  then  Daisy 
came  up,  and  held  out  her  hand  frankly. 

"  So  this  is  your  sister?  "  he  asked  with  a  smile.  "  I 
thought  some  one  said,  the  other  evening,  she  was  an 
invalid  ? ' ' 

"Mrs.  Glyndon  said  she  was  not  well,  that  was  all. 
Will  you  have  some  tea  here,  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,  or  will 
3-011"  — and  Dais\-  glanced  around. 


192  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"I  should  like  to  stay  here,  if  Mrs.  Kinnard  doesn't 
object.  This  table  is  just  large  enough  for  two." 

"  Then  I  will  wait  on  you,"  said  Daisy  delightedly. 

They  sat  and  chatted,  and  amused  themselves  by 
glancing  around  the  room.  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  seemed 
to  know  everybody.  That  little  near-sighted  fellow  over 
yonder  was  an  artist  who  had  made  a  name  and  fortune 
by  having  a  picture  put  in  chromo ;  and  that  tall,  fine- 
looking  girl  was  Miss  Wilson,  the  senator's  daughter,  who 
had  been  publishing  a  wonderful  book  on  entomology  — 
studied  under  Agassiz  ;  and  that  little  dot  of  a  Miss 
Howe  was  going  to  be  a  physician  ;  and  so  on,  in  an 
entertaining  and  good-humored  manner ;  telling  bright 
little  things,  but  none  that  were  sharp  or  bitter,  and  mak 
ing  her  talk  in  a  piquant  manner.  Then  3'oung  Conover 
brought  his  cup  of  tea  over,  because  Miss  Keith  had 
rejected  him  ;  and  Miss  Keith  came  over  to  explain  ;  and 
somehow,  presently,  Mrs.  Kinnard' s  table  became  a  centre 
of  attraction.  Miss  Howe's  father  had  known  Dr.  Kin 
nard.  "Wasn't  it  his  little  boy  that  Dr.  Francis  operated 
on  last  winter,  or  spring  ?  and  how  was  he  doing  ?  Every 
body  wondered  just  a  little  how  such  a  pretty  and  stylish 
woman  could  make  up  her  mind  to  be  stepmother  to  any 
one's  children. 

After  the  cream  went  out,  Mr.  Transome  plaj-ed,  then 
some  one  sang,  and  some  one  else ;  and  Mrs.  Glyndon 
begged  Mrs.  Kinnard  to  sing  an  old  Scotch  ballad  she 
had  heard  her  playing  a  few  da}"S  ago.  She  would  so 
much  rather  not ;  but  eve^-bodj'  thought  those  old  Scotch 
songs  so  wonderfully  pathetic. 

Nelly  Kinnard  had  just  the  voice  for  them ;  and  her 
pronunciation  was  so  quaint,  that  all  the  little  elisions 
and  contractions  and  hard  words  were  extremely  bewitch 
ing.  Then  some  one  Avondered  if  she  did  not  know 
"  Roy's  Wife."  That  was  ,a  rather  saucy,  coquettish 
thing ;  but  sing  it  she  must. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  193 

George  Van  Alstyne  stood  leaning  lazily  against  the 
door-jamb,  watching  her.  He  was  eight  and  twenty, 
very  good-looking,  very  gentlemanly,  educated,  accom 
plished,  travelled  ;  had  run  through  one  fortune,  and  was 
spending  another,  and  had  been  blase  so  long,  that  a  new 
sensation  was  a  godsend  to  him ;  but  new  women  were 
generall}'  bores.  More  than  one  society  belle  had  tried 
her  best,  and  failed  to  catch  him  ;  more  than  one  little 
modest  waj'side  flower  had  given  him  her  heart  to  tread 
on  daintily  as  one  crushes  a  butterfly.  And  now  the 
women  who  knew  him  best  had  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  he  was  not  a  marrying  man  :  so  he  had  settled  into  a 
general  favorite.  They  laughed  at  him,  and  made  much 
of  him,  and  really  admired  his  superb  laziness,  since  he 
was  never  rude,  but  always  exquisitely  well  bred. 

Nelly  sang,  — 

"  But  Eoy's  age  is  three  times  mine; 

I  think  his  years  they  can't  be  mony, 
And  then,  perhaps,  his  canty  queen, 

Forgetting  churl,  will  take  her  Johnny," 

and  gave  it  the  happy  audacity  of  a  daring,  and  not 
despairing  lover. 

It  came  into  his  mind  then  to  speculate  upon  what  Dr. 
Kinnard  was  like.  Dr.  Francis  was  quite  an  elderly 
man,  and  so  was  Mr.  Howe.  If  they  were  all  friends, 
and  had  been  young  together  —  what  romantic  folly  could 
have  induced  this  handsome  girl  to  marry  in  that  fashion, 
and  devote  herself  to  the  pale  little  youngster?  Yet  he 
liked  affairs  and  people  that  were  out  of  the  ever3T-day 
common  groove.  He  was  beginning  to  think  a  fortnight 
at  Severn  Point  quite  long  enough  :  now  he  resolved  to 
take  another  week  of  it,  and  study  this  new  chapter  in 
womankind.  As  she  was  married,  there  was  no  danger 
—  to  her  ;  and  he  never  was  in  danger. 

Mrs.  Glyndon's  evening  proved  a  perfect  success. 
17 


194  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

Somebody  wanted  to  know  if  she  wouldn't  ask  them  to 
tea  soon  again. 

"  I  am  going  to  have  a  dancing-party  next,  for  the 
young  people.  I  like  to  take  in  everybody.  After  that, 
I  will  consider." 

"I  am  not  going  to  wait  for  parties,"  said  Van  Al- 
styne.  "  Won't  you  take  pity  on  me,  and  let  me  drop  in 
to-morrow?  I  get  dreadfully  bored,  and  want  a  change." 

It  was  quite  flattering  to  have  him  ask  in  that  spoiled- 
child  way. 

"  Of  course  you  can  drop  in.  I  will  give  you  a  card  of 
admission  for  —  let  me  see  —  a  week.  Then  you  will  be 
tired  of  us.  Good-night." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

"  The  love  that  I  hae  chosen 
I'll  therewith  be  content: 
The  saut  sea  shall  be  frozen 
Before  that  I  repent." 

GEORGE  VAN  ALSTTNE  came  early  the  next  afternoon. 
Some  one  had  insisted  upon  taking  Daisy  out.  Nelly 
knew  now  that  this  was  Daisy's  handsome  hero  of  her 
first  evening's  entertainment ;  and  she  felt  a  little  afraid 
of  him  where  a  j'oung  girl  was  concerned.  Mrs.  Glj'n- 
don  was  busy  looking  up  dresses  for  tableaux :  so  she 
brought  him  into  Mrs.  Kinnard's  sitting-room. 

"You  must  take  care  of  him  for  a  little  while,"  she 
said.  "  My  business  is  of  importance.  But  it  is  too 
bad  to  have  you  so  heavily  burthened. — Bertie,  don't  you 
want  to  come  with  me  for  a  change  ?  ' ' 

The  child  was  pleased ;  for  he  delighted  in  Mrs.  Glyn- 
don's  chatter.  Van,  as  by  that  name  he  knew  himself 
best,  dropped  down  into  an  easy-chair  by  the  window,  and 
loitered  over  a  book  of  engravings.  They  soon  fell  into 
an  easy  talk,  —  so  easy,  that  Nell}'  took  up  some  trifle  of 
sewing.  Ordinarily  he  hated  to  have  a  woman  do  any 
thing,  except  pay  attention  to  him.  But  he  could  watch 
the  face  as  it  drooped  a  little :  he  had  an  artist's  quick 
perception  of  the  harmonious  lines  of  beauty.  The 
rounded  cheek,  the  delicate  pink  ear,  the  snowy  throat, 
and  symmetrical  slope  of  shoulder,  were  worth  a  painter's 
study ;  and  the  white,  slender  wrist,  with  the  tapering 

195 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

fingers  and  soft  palm  —  he  knew  it  was  soft  by  the  tint  of 
rosiness. 

They  discussed  the  city  a  little ;  and  he  told  her  of 
Paris,  Vienna,  and  Venice.  Bits  of  anecdote,  legends,  or 
a  quaint  verse,  were  happily  interspersed,  }ret  with  no 
effort  at  entertaining.  Then  Mrs.  Gtyndon  entered,  and 
consulted  them  both  about  some  costumes.  —  Bertie  fid 
geted,  and  whispered  once  or  twice  to  his  mamma. 

"  O  Mrs.  Kinnard !  "  he  said  suddenly,  "  don't  you  go 
out  for  your  drive  about  this  time?  Isn't  it  that  the 
little  boy  wants  ?  Do  not  let  me  detain  you.  You  have 
been  very  good  to  be  bothered  with  my  indolent  self  so 
long  ;"  and  he  rose. 

"  Why,  J  am  just  ready  to  entertain  you  now,"  said 
Mrs.  Glyndon.  "  You  need  not  feel  compelled  to  go.  — 
Bertie,  can  you  not  ring  the  bell  for  mamma?  " 

Mrs.  Glyndon  ordered  the  phaeton,  and  gave  Nelly  a 
commission  for  "  down  in  town."  Then  she  carried  off 
Van  Alstyne  ;  and  Daisy  returned  before  the}'  had  fin 
ished  their  talk. 

She  told  him  he  might  stay  to  tea,  if  he  would  drive 
her  and  Miss  Endicott  on  the  beach  afterward  ;  and  so 
Nelly  found  him  on  the  veranda  when  she  returned. 

That  was  the  beginning. 

•'  Don't  you  worry  about  it,"  said  Mrs.  Glyndon.  "  A 
week  from  this  time  he  will  be  bored  with  us,  and  go 
somewhere  else,  —  leave  Severn  Point,  doubtless.  In 
fact,  /  rather  enjoy  our  conquest.  I  cannot  decide  to 
whom  the  credit  belongs." 

Then  Dr.  Kinnard  came  on  Saturday  to  stay  over  until 
Monday. 

"  Why,  how  blooming  you  look !  he  exclaimed  to 
Nelly.  "I  need  not  ask  if  the  place  agrees  with  you. 
And  where  is  Bertie  ?  ' ' 

"  A  gentleman  has  taken  him  out.  You  see,  we  did 
not  expect  you  until  the  next  train,  and  I  meant  to  drive 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  197 

down  ;  but  this  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  wanted  to  take  Bertie, 
and  they  were  going  to  bring  Daisy  home.  You  will 
think  him  so  much  improved.  He  walks  quite  well  with 
out  his  crutch.  O  Barton,  how  thankful  I  am!"  and 
there  was  a  soft  break  in  her  voice. 

"  My  darling,  it  is  a  good  part  owing  to  your  courage 
and  patience.  I  shall  never  forget  that;  "-and  his  tone 
deepens  with  sudden  emotion.  "  And  you  are  happy  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Glyndon  is  bewitching  to  us  all.  She  makes  it 
a  perfect  holiday.  If  you  could  only  stay!"  and  she 
passes  her  fingers  caressingly  through  his  soft  hair. 
"  You  are  looking  tired." 

"  There  has  been  a  good  deal  of  sickness  among  the  mill- 
hands, —  intermittent,  with  bad  symptoms.  I  am  really 
glad  you  are  down  here,  Nelly.  Then  Searles  goes  away 
next  week  for  a  fortnight,  and  I  shall  be  busier  than  ever. 
But  I  do  mean  to  have  a  holiday  with  you  before  summer 
ends." 

Then  she  inquires  about  home-matters.  "  Mary  and 
mother  agree  excellently,"  says  the  doctor  with  a  rather 
amused  expression.  A  note  had  come  from  Aunt  Ade 
laide,  leaving  the  travellers  in  good  health.  Old  friends 
had  dispersed  for  recreation;  "  and,  of  course,  I  am  too 
busy  to  hunt  up  gossip."  With  that  he  laughs.  Then  a 
sound  of  wheels  breaks  their  Darby-and-Joan  confidence. 

' '  There  they  come !  Let  us  go  and  receive  them  in 
state." 

"Has  Daisy  captured  that  handsome  fellow?"  is  the 
surprised  question. 

"He  is  not  the  kind  to  be  captured,"  laughed  she, — 
"  least  of  all  by  such  a  wayside  Daisy.  I  have  come  to 
think  him  safe  on  that  account.  And  he  is  a  very  enter 
taining  companion." 

"  Remember  that  I  put  in  a  claim  for  Dudley." 

"  There  is  time  enough,"  answers  Nelly,  coloring  deli 
cately.  "  Barton,  I  have  felt  lately  what  a  solemn  thing 
17* 


198  NELLY  KIXNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

it  is  to  have  a  sweet  3roung  girl  in  your  charge,  to  keep 
out  worldliness  and  conceit  and  folly  amid  worldly  and 
frivolous  surroundings,  and  yet  not  thrust  aside  the  true 
pleasures  of  youth." 

"There,  I  will  not  have  you  borrowing,  trouble.  I 
have  great  faith  in  the  Endicott  good  sense." 

"Papa,  papa!  "  cries  a  joyous  voice  with  a  ring  in  it 
that  the  father  has  never  heard  in  past  days. 

Mr.  Van  Alstyne  lifted  Bertie  Kinnard  out  carefully, 
and  Miss  Endicott  courteously,  then  touched  his  hat,  and 
was  about  to  drive  away,  when  Nelly's  voice  arrested  him. 

"Do  not  go  just  yet,  Mr.  Van  Alstyne.  I  want  to 
present  j'ou  to  Dr.  Kinnard,  and  thank  you  for  the  trouble 
you  have  taken." 

"  "We  went  down  to  meet  the  train,"  explained  Daisy, 
"  and  thought  we  must  bring  home  a  disappointment. 
Instead,  you  stole  a  march  upon  us.  I  am  so  glad, 
Nelly!" 

Mr.  Van  Alstyne  responded  politely ;  but  his  gentle 
manly  manner  did  not  prevent  his  taking  a  society  meas 
ure  and  estimate  of  "  that  handsome  girl's  husband." 

"How  could  the  marriage  have  come  about?"  he 
mused  in  some  curiosity,  on  his  homeward  way,  having 
declined  an  invitation  to  supper.  "  Something  on  the 
Venus  and  Vulcan  order,  or  Proserpine  and  Pluto. 
Queer  alliances  happen  to  ordinary  mortals,  as  well  as  to 
the  old  gods.  She  was  a  minister's  daughter  ;  and  he  was 
the  best  that  came  to  hand  in  a  little  country  town,  I 
suppose.  She  may  imagine  she  loves  him;"  and  there 
was  an  incredulous  curl  on  his  handsome  lip. 

"  After  all,"  he  went  on,  "  women  are  much  alike,  the 
world  over.  I  do  believe  all  who  are  capable  of  the 
grand  passion  have  it  once  in  their  lives.  She  certainly 
is.  What  eyes !  What  a  wealth  of  dormant  passion, 
fire,  and  tenderness,  just  under  the  surface,  that  she  never 
dreams  of,  but  wastes  her  sweetness  on  that  insensate 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  199 

cub,  who  kisses  her  as  if  she  was  a  china  doll,  and  hangs 
around  her  neck  until  I  could  give  his  a  twist !  The 
Endicott  isn't  bad,  either,  with  her  flavor  of  meadows  and 
wild  roses,  but  not  to  be  compared  to  the  other.  By 
Jove,  Van !  3-011  have  fallen  into  fresh  pastures." 

They  at  the  cottage  did  not  need  to  think  of  him. 
Once  in  the  sitting-room,  Dr.  Kinnard  took  Bertie  upon 
his  knee,  and  looked  him  over  in  strange  amaze.  There 
had  come  a  gradual  but  great  change  to  the  child,  and  he 
realized  it  suddenly.  These  months  of  Nelly's  winsome, 
gentle  influence,  began  to  bear  fruit.  The  boyish  rough 
ness  and  ungraciousness,  engendered  in  fear  and  repres 
sion,  fell  away  like  an  outside  husk,  and  disclosed  a  warm, 
childish  heart.  It  had  been  a  favorite  sneer  of  Aunt 
Adelaide's,  when  he  was  particularly  intractable,  that  this 
or  that  trait  was  just  like  his  father.  Nelly  admitted  that 
she  was  nearer  right  than  she  seemed.  So  many  faults 
are  bu£  virtues  gnarled  and  trained  awry.  And  now  a 
shaft  of  that  sweet  human  love  had  pierced  the  child's 
spiritual  being,  making  a  tender  radiance.  A  touch  of 
moral  braveiy,  a  bit  of  unselfishness,  a  courteous  little 
act  done  for  her,  and  a  careful  avoidance  of  what  she  did 
not  like.  And  when  she  saw  him  spring  forward  with  a 
glad  cry  of  welcome,  or  sitting,  as  he  was  now,  half 
bashfully  on  his  father's  knee,  there  was  no  jealousy  in 
her  fine  nature.  She  had  brought  these  two  nearer 
together ;  but  it  did  not  crowd  her  out.  Love  was  not 
such  poor  brittle  stuff,  that  it  must  snap  if  another  laid 
a  finger  on  it. 

"He  has  improved  wonderfullj-."  But  the  words 
covered  more  than  mere  plrysical  advance. 

"  And  I  can  walk  very  well  without  any  crutch.  O 
papa  !  can' t  I  throw  it  awajr  ?  —  the  ugly  old  thing !  ' ' 
And  the  child  looked  up  with  pleading  impetuosity. 

"  Not  quite  so  fast,  my  son.  We  must  not  undo  the 
good  work  by  impatience." 


200  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  Mamma  said  I  might  ask  3'ou." 

"  We  will  talk  about  it  next  time  I  come.  And  you 
must  always  do  just  as  she  sa37s." 

"  I  do  try,  don't  I,  mamma?  But  then  she  lets  me  do 
so  many  things,  and  drive  the  pony  too.  It's  just 
splendid ! ' ' 

"Oh,  my  darling!"  exclaimed  the  doctor  when  they 
were  alone,  "  how  can  I  ever  be  sufficiently  grateful  for 
all  this  care  and  good  work?  I  feel  sometimes  as  if  you 
had  given  the  child  a  soul.  It  appeared  so  terrible  to  me 
at  first ;  but,  now  that  it  is  so  nearly  and  successfully 
ended,  I  forget  the  trouble,  and  see  only  the  good." 

"  As  it  is  right  and  best  for  you  to  do.  It  would  bo 
rank  ingratitude  for  you  to  keep  looking  on  the  dark  side, 
and  thinking  of  the  grief  that  might  have  been.  God 
means  us  to  enjoy  the  delight  that  he  places  right  in  our 
way." 

' '  I  begin  to  think  he  placed  you  in  my  way  with  a 
definite  purpose  ; ' '  and  there  was  a  sweet,  solemn  light 
in  the  soft  brown  e}Tes.  "My  dear  girl,  I  understand 
occasionally  that  you  have  a  wisdom  of  which  I  know 
nothing." 

If  George  Van  Alstyne  could  have  penetrated  the  holy 
of  holies  in  this  wedded  confidence,  he  might  have  found 
his  opinion  quite  at  fault. 

Two  delightfully  happy  days  there  were  for  Nelly.  The 
doctor  and  Mrs.  Glyndon  had  a  spicy  time.  They  always 
made  war  upon  each  other's  prejudices  and  beliefs  with 
gay  good  nature  and  freedom.  He  was  satisfied  with 
their  pleasant  surroundings,  and  tore  himself  away  with 
great  regret,  promising  to  come  soon  again. 

"  I  think  he  is  as  nice  as  anybody's  papa,"  said  Ber 
tie  confidentially. 

The  tide  rolled  back  to  every-day  enjoyment.  There 
were  continual  feasts  of  delight,  —  rowing-parties,  when 
the  sun  was  not  too  hot ;  boat-races,  in  which  there  was 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  201 

much  eager  rivalry,  the  }'oung  ladies  wearing  their  favor 
ite's  colors ;  driving  on  the  beach,  or  through  shady 
lanes ;  clambering  over  rocks ;  unearthing  strange  treas 
ures  ;  playing  at  science,  for  one  cannot  do  much  more  on 
a  summer  holiday.  The  poets  took  their  pens,  and  wrote 
idyls.  The  artists  studied  the  changes  of  the  glowing 
midsummer  sea  in  translucent  greens,  from  opal  paleness 
to  purple  depths,  or  when  the  light  reflected  the  azure 
heavens,  and  crested  each  wave  with  sapphire  tints. 
Cool  mornings,  with  a  soft  gray  tinder-roof  of  cloud  or 
vapor ;  brilliant  evenings,  when  the  setting  sun  seemed  to 
melt  and  transfuse  all  that  was  magnificent  in  coloring. 
The}7  discussed  art  over  their  cream,  and  the  wonders  of 
the  deep  amid  their  dances,  and  picturesque  views  from 
hill  and  hollow.  Surely  there  was  enough  without  playing 
fast  and  loose  with  human  hearts. 

Mrs.  Gl}'ndon's  household  had  grown  rapidly  into  favor. 
There  was  a  bit  of  romance  about  Mrs.  Kinnard  and  her 
lame  step-son.  Daisy  Endicott  was  also  in  great  demand. 
Her  infectious  frankness,  her  clear,  rejoicing  nature,  so 
ready  either  to  give  or  to  hold,  whichever  seemed  best ;  to 
fill  up  the  uninviting  corners  of  life's  great  harmony,  and 
give  them  the  same  glory  as  if  they  were  high  places  ; 
cheerfully  illumining  the  dull  parts  and  out-of-the-way 
nooks  that  others  disdained. 

Old  ladies  said,  "  What  a  pretty,  bright  little  body  that 
Miss  Endicott  is  !  so  full  of  life,  and  yet  not  frivolous,  so 
different  from  society-girls  !  Why,  it  quite  takes  one  back 
to  one's  own  youth.  It  is  so  good  to  see  a  3'oung  lady 
free  from  the  miserable  vice  of  husband-hunting ! ' ' 

The  current  set  toward  the  cottage.  The  refined  and 
intellectual  part  of  Severn  Point  counted  on  these  little 
teas  and  re-unions.  Nelly,  gracious  and  beautiful,  moved 
among  them  quite  a  social  queen.  She  enjoyed  the  wider 
talk,  the  breadth  and  freshness  of  ideas :  she  criticised 
with  a  delicacy  and  force  that  gave  tone  to  her  opinions, 


202  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

formed,  as  many  of  them  had  been,  in  her  father's  stud}T. 
There  was  a  fascination  in  her  cordial  smile  and  the 
depths  of  her  clear,  dark  eyes.  In  this  world,  truth  is 
overlaid  with  so  many  disguises,  that  when  one  meets 
with  it  in  the  absolute  glory  of  its  simpleness,  one  looks 
about,  like  a  man  who  has  discovered  a  new  and  curious 
gem,  and  wonders  what  name  it  shall  have,  —  as  if  God 
had  not  named  it  long  before  ! 

Mrs.  Glyndon  had  also  taken  George  Van  Alstyne  in 
hand.  Some  woman  is  always  seeing  the  capabilities  of 
these  lazy,  handsome  fellows.  She  was  not  one  of  those 
reprehensible  persons,  a  married  flirt  ;  but  she  liked  a  wide 
sphere,  and  plenty  of  people  to  manage.  The  -half-dozen 
children  that  Dr.  Kinnard  suggested  would  have  been 
admirable,  after  they  had  outgrown  their  unsatisfactory 
babyhood.  She  did  not  like  helplessness  nor  ignorance, 
but  wanted  fully-developed  material  :  to  that  she  could 
have  been  mother,  friend,  teacher.  So  she  said  of  Van 


"  He  wants  a  good  sound  shaking-up.  He  has  talent 
enough  for  any  thing.  I  do  believe,  if  he  was  to  lose 
every  dollar,  and  be  compelled  to  work  for  daily  bread, 
we  should  soon  hear  something  from  him.  But  there  !  I 
daresay  some  one  would  rise  from  an  unheardof  quarter 
of  the  earth  or  the  moon,  and  leave  him  half  a  million. 
It's  a  shame  when  he  might  do  so  much  !  " 

He  liked  the  humorous,  half-petulant,  and  wholly 
sensible  scolding.  He  made  himself  quite  necessary, 
assisting  her  with  pleasure-parties,  picnics,  and  home- 
entertainments.  She  took  good  care  not  to  throw  Daisy 
Endicott  in  his  way.  Beach  rambles,  and  moonlight 
drives,  plaintive  little  songs,  and  shady  corners  of  the 
porch  through  drows}-  afternoons,  provocative  of  much 
reading  of  poetry,  were  wisely  discountenanced,  —  • 
guarded  against  rather  than  forbidden. 

But  he  had  been  used  to  pleasing  himself  all  his  life, 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KIKGDOM.  203 

without  thinking  of  consequences.  For  him  there  were 
none.  He  never  staid  to  taste  the  bitter  draught,  or 
waited  for  autumn  frosts.  Rather  better  than  the  majority 
of  men,  he  fancied  himself.  There  .had  been  one  brief 
gambling-fever  in  his  life ;  and  it  had  not  proved  a  bad 
lesson.  He  had  never  run  away  with  any  man's  wife, 
or  betra}'ed  any  }'oung  girl.  Low  company  of  all  kinds 
disgusted  him :  drinking  and  racing  had  no  charms. 
Surely  his  was  the  "  primrose  way." 

It  must  be  conceded  that  his  estimate  of  women  had 
been  formed,  and  perhaps  not  unjustly,  from  those  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  mingling  with,  —  pure  society-women  ; 
3"oung  wives  to  whom  dancing,  dressing,  and  flirting  was 
the  ultima  thule  of  enjoyment,  and  who  were  glad  to 
take  in  their  train  so  refined  and  attractive  a  man.  The 
other  class  were  marriageable  daughters,  with  managing 
mammas  or  chaperones,  who  were  ready  to  tear  each  other 
in 'pieces  for  even  a  forlorn  hope.  He  rather  liked  to 
be  the  centre  of  this  rivalry.  He  laughed  at  the  pains 
and  allurements,  the  petty  spite,  the  small  stabs,  and 
selfish  triumphs  of  these  young  women.  That  he  helped 
to  lower  them  in  his  own  and  each  other's  estimation, 
never  once  occurred  to  him.  He  spiced  his  reflections 
with  dainty  bits  of  philosophy  picked  up  here  and  there 
in  his  reading,  —  not  of  an  elevating  kind  where  the  fair 
sex  were  concerned.  He  meant  to  have  a  good  time,  and 
plenty  of  what  he  called  enjoyment. 

He  also  had  access  to  a  higher  circle,  and  found  in  it  a 
degree  of  piquant  pleasure,  —  women,  who,  from  innate 
force  of  character,  stepped  out  of  the  rigid  routine  of 
society.  There  was  such  a  clique  at  Severn  Point.  He 
could  discuss  painting  and  poetry,  medicine  and  politics, 
and  the  questions  of  the  day  regarding  the  social  status 
of  women.  His  reading  had  not  boen  altogether  frivolous  ; 
and  his  powers  of  observation  were  good,  in  the  main. 
They  looked  upon  him  as  a  step  above  a  brilliant  butterfly, 


204  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

but  would  never  have  thought  of  demanding  a  honey-bee's 
labor  from  him. 

He  had  gone  the  round  of  simple  pleasures  in  that  far- 
back  youth,  when  he  thought  a  waltz  with  a  handsome 
girl  divine.  But  he  must  have  some  excitement  beyond 
bread  and  tea.  So  he  laid  siege  to  Mrs.  Kinnard's  igno 
rance  of  her  own  wants  and  powers.  She  should  learn 
that  there  was  something  higher  and  keener  in  the  world 
than  the  pleasure  of  ministering  to  the  wants  and  whims 
of  a  country  doctor,  and  calling  out  her  exquisite  mother- 
liness  for  this  commonplace  fledgeling. 

And  when  she  had  learned  her  lesson  —  what  then,  Mr. 
Van  Alstyne?  When  }-ou  had  taught  her  to  believe  her 
present  surroundings  dull  and  narrow,  her  simple  duties 
distasteful ;  when  she  aimed  at  greater  heights  of  intel 
lectual  and  pyschological  pleasure,  and  felt  herself  bound 
hand  and  foot,  —  what  had  you  to  offer  her  for  her  olden 
content,  her  unalloyed  faith,  her  unstained  sweetness? 
Ah,  then  you  would  say  pityingly,  "  Well,  she  was  foolish 
to  marry  such  a  clod ;  but,  having  done  it,  there  is 
nothing  but  to  abide  by  her  bargain-,"  and  leave  her  to 
find  her  way  back  to  the  despoiled  altar  alone,  if,  haply, 
it  might  be  found  at  all.  Would  she  bless  her  fatal 
knowledge,  think  JTOU? 

As  for  her,  she  never  dreamed  of  his  speculations.  He 
was  an  entertaining  companion ;  but  she  did  not  even  seek 
to  make  a  friend  of  him.  Their  acquaintance  would  end 
with  this  summer  idling.  It  was  like  walking  through 
some  palace  garden ;  but  she  felt  no  desire  to  pluck 
blossoms  simply  because  they  were  forbidden,  and  were 
for  other  hands.  She  had  no  small  vanity  to  be  elated. 
She  had  won  the  heart  of  one  man,  and  was  therewith 
content. 


CHAPTER 


"Such  things,  however,  he  used  to  do  aforetime,  also,  he  used 
to  offer  you  a  little  of  what  he  received  ;  but  he  used  to  set  before 
himself  the  greater  part."  —  ARISTOPHANES'  COMEDY. 

IT  was  a  musical  evening  this  time.  The  performers 
had  been  put  down  for  certain  parts,  and  were  acquitting 
themselves  creditably,  without  any  halts  or  demurs.  The 
audience  were  genially  appreciative.  In  the  pauses  little 
knots  and  groups  chatted  gayly. 

Over  in  this  corner,  with  a  portfolio  of  Hogarth's  satires 
between  them,  sat  Mrs.  Kinnard  and  Mr.  Van  Alstyne. 
She  had  done  her  part  in  singing,  been  very  agreeable  to 
some  new-comers  ;  and  now,  rather  to  her  surprise,  she 
found  herself  alone  with  him  in  a  somewhat  earnest  dis 
cussion. 

"Then  you  do  not  think,"  he  was  saying,  "  that  this 
soul  we  have  been  speaking  of  has  a  right  to  free  itself 
from  the  customs  and  shackles  of  society,  and  live  out  a 
higher  life,  —  one  more  true  to  itself  ?  " 

"  Now  you  generalize  quite  too  much,  Mr.  Van  Al 
styne,"  she  answered  with  a  frank  smile.  "Isn't  being 
'true  to  one's  self  '  a  rather  confusing  term  ?  What  if 
the  self  were  wrong?  In  such  a  case,  would  the  life  have 
an}'  greater  freedom  ?  Would  not  the  restless  soul  come 
to  another  bar  presently,  and  fret  against  that  ?  Do  not 
people  occasionally  mistake  restlessness  for  develop 
ment?" 

"  But  one  cannot  remain  forever  in  the  same  old  groove. 

18  205 


206  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

It  is  not  natural  or  right.  I  hate  people  who  fancy  they 
are  fitted,  once  for  all,  in  some  corner." 

"  But  it  may  fit  them  ;  "  and  she  glanced  up  brightly. 
"  It  seems  to  me  a  fortunate  thing  for  the  stability  of  the 
world,  for  progress  even,  that  all  do  not  want  to  change." 

"  But  you  would  take  away  improvement.  And  pardon 
me,  Mrs.  Kinnard,  but  that  does  not  seem  like  you.  I 
have  admired  you  in  man}'  things,  I  cannot  help  it ;  and 
one  has  been  this  very  breadth  and  liberality  of  opinion." 

It  was  most  delicate  flatten".  His  eyes  vouched  for 
his  earnestness,  if  not  his  truth. 

"What  I  mean  is  this,  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,"  she  said 
with  the  most  direct  simplicity.  "  There  are  certain 
known  laws  of  right  and  wrong,  subject  to  small  modifica 
tions  perhaps.  But  it  seems  hardly  safe  to  me  to  stray 
out  of  the  beaten  path.  When  one  begins  to  make  new 
laws,  there  is  no  limit.  Might  it  not  be  possible  for  these 
souls  to  improve  under  existing  circumstances?  Have 
they  tried  all  in  their  own  sphere,  —  all  work,  all  prayer, 
all  patience  ?  ' ' 

He  was  not  prepared  to  meet  so  important  a  question, 
and  said,  rather  evasively,  — 

"  Then  you  don't  think  anybody  in  this  world  is  mis 
fitted,  out  of  place?  I  do,  I  can't  help  it.  Neither  can 
I  blame  them  for  trying  to  get  somewhere  else.  They 
may  -make  many  mistakes  before  they  find  their  true 
sphere." 

A  grave  light  filled  her  beautiful  eyes. 

"  Yes  :  I  have  seen  people  whom  I  thought  were  out  of 
place  ;  but,  if  they  endeavored  earnestly  and  patiently  to 
fulfil  their  allotted  tasks,  there  was  a  heroism  about  it  that 
taught  a  grander  lesson  than  any  mere  personal  enjo}'- 
ment.  Do  you  not  think,  when  a  person  sets  out  to  have 
happiness  or  indulgence  at  any  cost,  he  may  take  that 
which  is  clearly  another's?  What  is  a  strong  desire  of 
that  to  which  some  other  has  attained,  but  covetous- 
ness?" 


KELLY  KESTNARD'S  KINGDOM.  207 

"  It  might  not  be  another  person's." 

"  But  that  was  where  we  started  from.  This  poor  soul, 
seeing  the  richness  and  fulness  of  other  lives,  longs  for 
liberty  to  get  out  of  its  sphere,  to  leave  its  duties  behind, 
to  seek  pleasure  wherever  it  can  be  found,  —  perhaps  the 
very  thing,  that  God,  for  some  wise  purpose,  is  keeping 
out  of  its  way.  I  have  thought  sometimes,  that  when  a 
person  desires  a  thing  very  much,  —  a  thing  that  others 
could  see  was  wrong  and  improper,  — -  God  allowed  him  to 
attain  it,  and  take  the  bitter  consequences  that  followed 
in  its  train." 

"  But  it  seems  hard,  when  one  has  made  a  mistake,  to 
forbid  him  to  try  again.  Are  you  not  a  fatalist  in  happi 
ness?"  and  he  smiled  with  a  dangerous,  alluring  light. 
"  If  it  comes,  well  and  good  :  if  not,  make  no  search  for 
it." 

"Not  quite.  The  trouble  is  in  making  it  the  chief 
good,  in  searching  so  restlessly  for  it.  "We  are  talking 
unwarrantably  at  an  evening  party,  are  we  not?  Miss 
Graham  is  going  to  sing  '  Three  Fishers  ; '  and  3-011  must 
listen.  And  there  is  Miss  Howe." 

She  beckoned  for  the  latter  to  join  them.  Van  Alstyne 
bit  his  lip.  Any  other  woman  would  have  been  delighted 
to  keep  him  to  herself.  He  was  not  used  to  friendly  in 
difference  on  the  part  of  the  sex.  And  he  wished  she 
were  not  so  horribly  practical  with  her  right  and  wrong. 
Wh}'  could  she  not  compare  and  analyze  feelings,  emo 
tions,  even  wishes,  and  stray  to  that  farther  verge  where 
love  trenched  upon  passion  ?  Was  there  any  thing  intense 
or  enthusiastic  in  her  nature  ? 

Provoked,  he  stra3~ed  off  to  another  group.  Daisy  En- 
dicott  had  been  talking  earnestly  ;  and  the  flush  was  still 
on  her  face  :  her  eyes  had  a  peculiar,  dew}r  softness.  He 
was  bored  by  the  music,  and  in  a  mood  of  vexed  despera 
tion  :  so  he  brought  out  all  his  fascinations,  and  charmed 
her. 


208  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 


}'  happened  to  glance  up,  and  caught  sight  of 
Daisy's  rapt,  attentive  face.  She  crossed  over  to  them, 
and  would  have  detached  her  ;  but  it  was  not  so  easily 
done.  He  was  a  skilful  tactician  on  his  own  ground. 

"  Can  she  be  jealous?  "  he  thought  with  secret  exulta 
tion.  "Is  she  like  other  women  in  this?  If  so,  I  hold 
the  trump-card." 

He  had  no  fine  scruples  upon  this  point.  It  amused 
him  to  see  one  woman  pitted  against  another.  He  had 
been  good  quite  long  enough.  Not  a  single  spicy  flirta 
tion  this  whole  summer  ! 

He  was  tired  of  these  intellectual  arguments,  compari 
sons  of  old  and  new  truths,  intricate  and  toilsome  reason 
ings,  higher  culture,  mental  progress,  growth,  evolution, 
and  all  that.  He  was  here  in  the  world  to  have  a  good 
time.  A  long  afternoon  in  some  blossomy  nook,  watch 
ing  the  color  come  and  go  on  a  woman's  cheek,  her  eyes 
droop,  and  the  lids  tremble,  the  scarlet  lip  quiver  with 
contending  emotions,  the  white  hands  clasp  of  themselves 
now  and  then,  as  if  they  were  longing  for  some  other 
clasp  —  ah  !  that  was  worth  all  the  metaphysics  in  the 
world  for  him. 

"  I  don't  object  to  the  enjoyment  of  others  :  why  should 
they  to  mine?"  he  reasoned  petulantly  to  himself.  "To 
show  a  woman  that  she  has  a  heart  is  surely  no  great 
crime,  so  long  as  you  do  not  win  it." 

But  where  did  he  mean  the  knowledge  to  end,  and  the 
experience  to  begin? 

So  far,  Daisy  Endicott  had  passed  unscathed.  While 
there  had  been  much  pleasure  at  Severn  Point,  flirtations 
had  been  kept  in  the  background.  Mrs.  Glyndon  was 
not  the  kind  of  woman  to  allow  a  man  to  drift  into  fond 
ness  for  her.  She  had  very  little  sentiment  ;  and  that  was 
of  the  highest  order.  Nelly  Kinnard  would  have  blushed 
with  shame  at  any  one  daring  to  esteem  her  in  but  one 
light,  —  that  of  Dr.  Kiuiiard's  wife.  Her  theory  was, 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  209 

that,  in  these  cases,  a  woman  must  hold  out  some  encour 
agement ;  and   she  experienced  a   pitying  sympathy  for' 
those  unfortunates  who  turned  from  ill-chosen  companions 
to  the  dangerous  sympathy  and  fascinating  possibility  that 
occasionally  opened  before  them. 

But  in  Van  Alstyne's  code  there  were  no  fine  distinctions. 
That  subtle  understanding  must  flash  out  when  the  right 
souls  met.  They  need  not  cause  a  scandal  (he  would  be 
the  last  one  to  do  that)  ;  but  they  might  admit  in  their 
secret  hearts,  that,  if  fate  had  led  them  in  different  paths  — 

Would  he  be  content  to  stay  in  this  path  with  this  or 
that  woman?  It  was  a  question  he  never  asked  himself. 
To  him  there  was  always  an  outgrowing,  a  sense  of  further 
development.  But  if,  on  the  other  side,  there  was  not  this 
fatal  changing  ?  The  most  fickle  man  demands  that  the 
woman  he  loves  shall  be  true  to  him. 

It  was  an  easy  matter  to  be  a  little  more  to  Daisy 
Endicott.  They  had  been  such  frank,  good  friends,  —  this 
man  of  the  world,  and  the  simple-hearted  girl.  Why 
could  he  not  let  her  grow  and  blossom  for  the  one  hand  to 
pluck  presently,  to  have  and  to  hold  forever? 

It  was  only  a  deeper  meaning  in  the  smiles  ;  the  peculiar 
turn  of  a  word  or  sentence  ;  a  choice  flower ;  a  bit  of 
poetry,  the  pathos  of  which  she  could  readily  understand, 
and  that  he  would  hardly  ofier  at  any  other  shrine  on 
account  of  its  rare  simplicity ;  asking  aid  and  comfort 
in  some  weary  moment,  and  showing  her  the  despondency 
of  his  moods,  while  others  believed  he  never  had  a  serious 
feeling. 

"  She  will  be  none  the  worse  for  a  little  experience 
of  her  own,"  he  argued  selfishly,  salving  thereby  his 
conscience. 

Opportunities,  as  I  have  said,  were  not  wanting.     Mat 
ters  had  settled  into  so  comfortable  a  groove,  that  Mrs. 
Glj-ndon  was  no  longer  watchful.     lie  did  not  mean  to 
draw  any  other  person's  attention  to  his  idling  ;  and  this 
18* 


210  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

very  fact  was  calculated  to  blind  an  unsuspicious  girl. 
Daisy  Endicott  knew  so  little  of  the  fatal  craving  for  ex 
citement  ;  her  life  had  been  so  healthful,  her  duties  fresh 
and  varied,  if  simple.  Her  affection  flowed  in  natural 
channels,  and  did  not  need  to  tread  daintily  and  daringly 
to  the  verge  of  danger.  There  was  no  continual  intro 
spection  or  morbid  analysis  :  she  lived  daily  in  the  ' '  open 
sunshine  of  God's  love,"  and  was  content. 

Dr.  Kinnard  had  made  two  brief  visits  at  Severn  Point, 
—  one  of  a  night's  duration,  the  other  a  little  longer  ;  but 
he  did  not  come  for  society.  Nelly  asked  when  they  were 
to  return  home. 

' '  Are  you  not  happy  and  content  here  ? ' '  was  his  half- 
humorous  query. 

"  Yes,  both.  But  when  I  think  of  you  in  your  lonely 
home,  and  with  your  pressing  duties,  I  feel  as  if  my  place 
was  at  your  side." 

"  Thank  you,  my  dear  ;  "  and  he  drew  her  closer  to  his 
side  with  a  fond  pressure,  though  the  grave  little  frown, 
that  seldom  meant  any  thing  more  than  a  puzzle,  settled 
between  his  brows.  "I  may  as  well  tell  you  the  truth, 
Nelly  ;  "  and  then  it  cleared  up.  "  The  fever  at  Edgerly 
has  been  worse  than  I  at  first  expected.  At  times  I  have 
felt  quite  discouraged.  "What  can  3-011  do  when  people 
are  so  afraid  of  fresh  air  and  cleanliness  ;  when  they  spread 
their  beds  as  soon  as  they  are  out  of  them ;  allow  all 
manner  of  refuse  to  gather  in  cellars,  or  lay  festering  in 
back-yards  ;  who  are  ignorant  of  the  first  laws  of  health, 
and  stick  obstinately  to  what  their  grandfathers  and 
grandmothers  did  under  widely  different  circumstances  ? 
If  it  was  only  the  poor  and  careless  who  sickened  and 
died  as  the  result  of  their  own  inefficiency  —  but  these 
things  spread,  as  they  have  at  Edgerly.  "We  are  high, 
and  out  of  reach  of  malaria  ;  but  still  it  is  a  relief  to  have 
you  and  Bertie  away.  I  have  less  to  think  of.  I  can 
come  and  go  as  I  please  ;  and  3-ou  may  imagine  that  I  am 
kept  pretty  busjr." 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  211 

' '  But  j-our  own  danger !  You  think  nothing  of  that ! ' ' 
she  cried  vehemently. 

"  My  own  danger  is  not  very  alarming,"  he  returned 
rather  gaj'ly.  "  I  have  not  lived  in  this  world  six  and 
thirty  years  without  learning  to  take  care  of  nryself. 
Don't  make  a  bugbear  of  that  now !  I  will  promise  you, 
that,  at  the  first  S3'mptom  of  any  thing  like  indisposition, 
I  will  rejoin  you  here.  There,  is  not  that  enough?  It 
would  be  cowardly  to  desert  my  post  in  my  present 
robust  health." 

"But  does  Mary  keep  you  quite  comfortable?"  the 
young  wife  inquired  anxiously. 

"  Mary  is  a  jewel.  Little  Katy  has  been  rather  ailing : 
so  we  sent  her  away.  I  wanted  mother  to  go;  but"  — 
and  he  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  You  could  not  manage  her  as  easily  as  you  do  me." 

' '  Exactly,  Nelly ; ' '  and  he  gave  a  mellow  laugh.  ' '  She 
is  on  the  spot,  j'ou  see,  and  will  not  go  ;  and,  somehow  "  — 

He  rose  in  the  long  pause,  and  began  to  pace  the  floor 
thoughtfully. 

"Yes,"  he  went  on  directty,  "  somehow  matters  have 
changed  between  us.  She  seems  to  care  for  watching 
over  me,  and  doesn't  fret  as  she  used.  Maybe  I  am 
more  patient:  I  don't  know.  Actually,  Nelty,  she  keeps 
fresh  flowers  on  the  dining-table,  and  has  come  to  have 
wa}rs  like  you.  It  is  very  pleasant,"  in  a  kind  of  dreamy 
tone. 

"Very  pleasant!"  Nelly  Kinnard  crowded  down 
something  that  seemed  to  rise  with  her  breath.  Another 
woman  ministering  in  her  place,  standing  in  her  stead, 
copying  her  ways,  breathing  soft  and  tender  words,  teach 
ing  him  to  miss  her  less  and  less?  There  was  a  quick, 
sharp  pang — to  be  crowded  out!  Why,  the  child  was 
not  half  to  her  that  he  was,  —  her  chosen  husband. 
Should  she  not  demand  her  right? 

She  thrust  out  the  foul   temptation.     If   any  jealous 


212  KELLY  KINKABD'S  KINGDOM. 

feeling  entered  in,  it  should  not  take  possession.  God 
had  made  him  a  son  long  before  human  love  made  him  a 
husband.  She  ought  to  feel  glad  and  satisfied  that  there 
was  some  one  to  cheer  his  solitude. 

She  sprang  up  suddenly,  holding  out  her  hands  with 
wordless  entreat}'.  He  took  them  with  a  little  caress, 
then,  infolding  her  with  his  arm,  went  on  pacing  the  room 
with  her  at  his  side. 

"  Nell}-,"  and  a  touch  of  emotion  trembled  in  his 
voice,  "  I  think  }'our  life  at  Edgerly  has  been  thorn}'  in 
many  ways.  I  might  have  helped  some  of  it  at  first,  if 
I  had  known  how ;  but  I  was  afraid  of  making  matters 
worse.  And  men  cannot  see  with  women's  eyes,  lucky  for 
them  sometimes  that  they  do  not ;"  and  he  laughed  with 
a  flavor  of  iron}'.  "  I  have  to  thank  you  for  a  great  deal 
of  patience  and  sweetness  :  nay,  let  me  go  on.  I  had  a 
man's  fancy  that  I  was  marrying  you  all  for  myself.  I 
meant  that  you  should  be  troubled  with  no  responsibility 
of  children,  until  it  pleased  God  to  grant  you  some  of 
your.own.  As  for  mother  and  Aunt  Adelaide,  what  they 
thought  was  of  small  importance  to  me.  But  (shall  I 
say  it?)  Providence"  —  and  there  was  a  reverential  in 
flection  to  his  voice  —  "has  changed  much  of  this.  You 
have  won  a  mother's  sacred  place  in  Bertie's  affection, 
given  him  more  tenderness  than  many  mothers  bestow. 
You  have  made  him  nearer  to  me  :  you  have  brought  the 
solemn  responsibility  of  fatherhood  before  me  in  its 
divine  light.  When  I  look  back  "  — 

She  felt  the  arm  tremble  that  clasped  her  so  closely. 
Ah  !  could  any  thing  shut  her  out  of  his  heart  ? 

He  was  not  much  given  to  talking  matters  over.  She 
would  never  know  just  what  this  separation  was  doing  for 
him,  for  her  ;  how  he  missed  her  in  a  thousand  ways 
that  he  could  never  have  put  in  words  ;  how  he  lingered 
over  her  courage  and  tenderness  of  the  past  winter, 
discovering  the  exquisite  delicacy  and  richness  of  a  true 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  213 

woman's  nature,  thanking  God  with  a  strange  humility 
for  the  rare  gift  vouchsafed  to  him. 

In  this  softened  mood,  he  turned  to  his  mother  with  a 
sympathy  she  had  seldom  received  before.  A  century  of 
living  alone  with  her  would  never  have  brought  out  his 
best  points.  She  fretted  and  jarred  too  much :  he  with 
drew  to  inward  solitudes.  Her  stubborn  pride  would  not 
have  allowed  her  to  soften  perceptibly  before  Nelly  ;  and 
even  now  she  would  have  fiercely  resented  any  suspicion 
of  copying  such  an  inexperienced  3"oung  woman.  But 
she  did  many  things  with  no  higher  motive,  it  must  be 
confessed,  than  to  please  him  ;  and,  in  his  changed  mood, 
he  was  touched  by  these  little  evidences  of  affection  on 
her  part.  People  are  not  so  widely  separated  as  they 
imagine.  Often  the  partition-wall  is  hardly  more  than 
paper,  and  needs  but  the  right  touch  to  break  it  down. 
These  son-like  ways  were  not  as  new  to  Ms  thought, 
perhaps,  as  to  the  outward  expression  of  them.  There 
was  no  Aunt  Adelaide  to  nip  sentiment  in  the  bud  with 
her  cold  sneers. 

Dr.  Kinnard  bent,  and  kissed  his  wife  tenderly. 

"  I  think  we  shall  find  a  smoother  way  in  the  future, 
little  woman,"  he  went  on  with  an  effort  at  gayety,  hard 
ly  venturing  to  trust  his  voice  further  among  the  deep 
emotions  of  the  soul.  "And,  when  you  return,  I  hope 
there  will  await  you  what  you  have  not  yet  had,  —  a 
mother's  cordial  welcome." 

Nelly  gave  the  arm  that  encircled  her  a  caressing 
pressure. 

"  You  will  stay,  and  be  content?  You  will  not  worry 
about  me  ?  Have  this  much  confidence  in  me,  my  dear 
child,  that  I  shall  not  run  any  unnecessary  risks.  But 
it  is  hardly  so  bad  as  that." 

Yes,  she  would  have  faith  in  him,  not  only  in  the  mat 
ter  of  the  sickness,  but  in  others  of  deeper  moment. 
Nothing  should  impair  the  sweetness  of  her  trust. 


214  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  , 

And  yet  there  were  hours  when  she  would  have  pre 
ferred  toil  beside  him  to  the  dreamy  indolence  to  which 
she  seemed  condemned.  True,  Bertie  improved  every 
day.  They  resumed  some  of  the  discarded  lessons, 
though  it  was  more  object  than  book  teaching.  She 
interested  herself  in  household  affairs  with  her  gracious 
tact. 

"My  asking  you  here  was  a  positive  inspiration," 
Mrs.  Glyndon  would  exclaim.  "  What  could  I  have 
done  without  you  ?  ' ' 

Mr.  Van  Alstyne  remarked  her  pre-occupation.  Did  it 
betoken  some  secret  dissatisfaction  ?  She  watched  Daisy 
with  a  quiet  but  unflagging  solicitude.  Was  it  a  touch  of 
jealousy,  just  enough  to  make  her  piquant,  —  a  fear  lest 
he  should  prove  too  attractive  ?  He  felt  strangely  elated 
by  either  view  of  the  case.  If  he  could  only  succeed  in 
rousing  her  to  any  thing !  To  see  the  fine  dark  e}-es  grow 
lustrous,  to  deepen  the  color  on  the  beautiful  cheek,  or 
rouse  the  lips  out  of  their  placid  curves  !  Why,  he  could 
have  won  almost  any  other  woman's  soul  with  half  the 
effort  —  but,  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,  it  would  not  have  been 
this  order  of  woman. 

An  incident  occurred  just  at  this  time  that  served  to 
heighten  his  interest  in  both,  and  hasten  the  catastrophe 
Nelly  was  studying  to  avert. 

"I  am  going  to  send  Dudley  to  Severn  Point,"  said 
Dr.  Kinnard  in  one  of  his  letters.  "  He  has  worked  him 
self  out,  and  needs  change  and  rest.  Tell  Mrs.  Glyndon 
to  take  him  in  hand,  while  I  prescribe  negatives,  —  no 
sermons,  no  theological  points,  no  plans  for  parish  work, 
nothing  but  eating,  sleeping,  and  diversion." 

There  had  been  a  thinning-out  at  the  hotels.  Vacation 
had  ended  for  some  of  the  young  men ;  and  the  ladies 
needed  fresh  pastures.  Tableaux  had  grown  tiresome ; 
amateur  concerts  were  on  the  wane  ;  picnics  with  gypsy 
suppers  had  lost  their  charm.  Indeed,  Mrs.  Glyndon's 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  215 

evenings  were  the  only  entertainments  that  kept  their 
piquancy  and  freshness. 

"Mr.  Dudley  will  be  quite  an  excitement,"  said  Mrs. 
Gtyndon  with  a  wonderful  accession  of  interest.  "  Let 
me  see  —  the  Edgecombes  will  just  suit  him;  and  they 
have  that  delightful  second-story  room  empty.  Nelty, 
we  must  go  over  and  see." 

"  That  is  the  way  with  you  women.  You  must  always 
have  some  one  new  in  your  train,  —  a  tame  bear,  or  a  pet 
lion.  Will  I  be  eaten  up,  or  growled  at?  " 

Mrs.  Glyndon  laughed  heartily. 

"  Upon  my  word,  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,  it  is  odd  to  rouse 
you  to  such  fierceness.  Why,  I  thought  you  were  asleep 
there  on  the  sofa  :  so  Mrs.  Kinnard  and  I  would  be  quite 
at  libert}T  to  discuss  ways  and  means.  And  then  he  is 
Mrs.  Kinnard' s  clergyman." 

' '  Father-confessor  ? ' ' 

"Well  —  not  exactly;"  and  Mrs.  Glyndon  gave  a 
funny  perk  to  her  brows. 

"So  you  throw  me  overboard.  Well,  republics  are 
ungrateful." 

"  Why,  no.  But  you  were  complaining  of  dulness  no 
longer  ago  than  yesterday." 

"  Was  I?  A  man  can  repent,  I  suppose,"  raising  his 
slow-moving,  magnificent  eyes.  "  I  am  tired  of  hanging 
around  with  hands  full  of  shawls  and  baskets.  The  dewy 
uplands  are  wet ;  the  sun  scorches  you ;  and  the  gnats 
sting  in  the  shade  "  — 

"  And  the  spray  wets  3*ou,  the  dancing  heats  you,  the 
driving  bores  you.  You  are  a  spoiled  child,  Van 
Alstyne.  You  have  been  indulged  until  you  think  the 
whole  world  ought  to  revolve  around  j'ou.  It  is  high 
time  I  took  you  in  hand,  and  set  you  in  your  proper 
place." 

The  pretty  assumption  of  motherliness  did  not  in  the 
least  offend  him.  When  Mrs.  Glyndon  said  she  scolded, 


216  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

3'ou  might  know  of  a  truth  that  she  was  extra  good- 
humored. 

"  Why,  we  ought  to  go  this  \ery  afternoon,"  she  says 
presentlj-,  jumping  up  in  a  little  fluster.  "  To-day  is 
Friday ;  and  Mr.  Dudle3r  will  be  here  on  Monday.  —  You 
can  amuse  jxnirself,  can  you  not,  Van  Alstyne?  " 

"  Oh,  don't  mind  me  !  I  must  go  and  sa}^  good-by  to 
half  a  dozen  women  who  set  sail  to-morrow  ;  "  and  he  rises 
in  a  lazily-petulant  manner  while  they  are  making  their 
plans.  Mr.  Dudley's  coming  is  not  a  pleasant  prospect  to 
him. 

"  Addio,"  \vith  regretful  grace  and  ease. 


CHAPTER   XVIH. 

"  But  had  I  wist,  when  first  I  kist, 

That  love  hae  been  sae  ill  to  win, 
I'd  locked  my  heart  in  case  o'  gowd, 
And  pinned  it  wi'  a  siller  pin."  — OLD  BALLAD. 

No,  it  was  not  a  pleasant  prospect.  He  hated  to  be 
pushed  aside  for  any  man :  he  was  not  used  to  it  where 
women  were  concerned.  He  was  sauntering  along  in  a 
vexed  mood,  when  he  met  Miss  Endicott,  her  hands  full 
of  feathery  grasses,  and  looking  like  a  "Watteau  shepherd 
ess  in  her  wide  seaside  hat  with  its  white  frilling  and 
cheny-colored  bows. 

"  They  are  discussing  Mr.  Dudley,  and  will  be  out  the 
next  hour,  hunting  him  up  a  domicile  of  some  kind.  So 
they  don't  need  you,  and  I  do  ;  for  I  am  in  a  horridly  ill- 
humor.  "Will  j'oii  not  take  a  ramble  down  to  the  Point, 
good  Samaritan?" 

She  glanced  up  into  the  handsome  face  with  some 
indecision  ;  but  the  entreating  eyes  and  beseeching  smile 
conquered  it. 

"  I  have  been  out  all  the  afternoon  with  Miss  Gra 
ham  ' '  — 

"Then  finish  it  with  me.  There,  we  will  lay  the 
grasses  in  this  sheltered  nook  ;  "  and  he  took  them  from 
her  hand,  slipping  it  within  his  arm.  He  knew  well  that 
taking  possession  was  better  than  arguing  half  an  hour. 

On  they  went  to  the  gray  ledges  of  rock,  where  they 
could  sit  with  the  shining  sand  at  their  feet,  and  the 

19  217 


218  NELLY  KJNNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

wide  waters  spread  out  before  them.  They  were  quite 
alone  too.  Out  in  the  hazy  distance,  some  fishermen 
were  singing.  The  billows,  crested -in  pale  emerald  and 
frost-white,  came  in  like  fairy  squadrons  on  some  enchanted 
quest.  The  pale  clear  sun  went  dropping  down  in  the 
west  beyond  the  distant  town,  shedding  a  softened  glory, 
instead  of  his  usual  fiery  rays.  The  sky  was  of  palest 
blue  with  long  sapphire  streaks.  Bars  of  dim  3'ellow, 
faint  violet,  and  delicate  rose,  crossed  the  golden  back 
ground,  and  presently  mingled  into  cool,  dreamy  gray, 
that  left  a  peculiar  luminous  track  on  the  waves. 

He  talked,  and  she  listened  with  shy,  girlish  gladness. 
It  was  not  so  much  what  he  said  as  his  manner  of  saying 
it.  She  could  not  have  repeated  one  entire  sentence 
afterward;  but  the  impression  sank  into  her  soul.  She 
had  a  feeling  that  it  would  be  delightful  to  stay  here  for 
ever,  listening  to  the  caressing  sweetness  of  his  voice,  that 
chorded  so  exquisitely  with  the  twilight  rhythm  of  the  sea. 
And,  after  a  while,  it  was  all  gray  about  them,  —  the 
purple  and  dun  gray  of  coming  night. 

"  Oh !  "  she  cried,  rousing  herself,  "  we  must  go  home. 
I  did  not  dream  it  was  so  late." 

He  started  at  the  full,  rich  depths  of  her  voice,  —  the 
tone  that  comes  from  a  soul  that  has  been  quaffing  draughts 
from  Circean  fountains.  He  had  willed  to  be  fascinating, 
to  stir  the  depths  of  her  nature ;  and  he  had  succeeded. 
If  he  preserved  that  grave,  brotherly  demeanor,  she  would 
never  know  how  near  she  had  been  to  the  fatal  shore. 
Could  he  ?  It  was  only  pastime,  on  his  part ;  and  he  had 
gone  far  enough.  Would  he? 

They  walked  slowly  back.  She  was  in  too  much  of  an 
enchanted  atmosphere  to  be  disturbed  by  any  anxiety  of 
what  was  to  come.  They  found  the  grasses  ;  and  he  went 
with  her  to  the  gate.  Ah  !  after  all,  had  he  the  manliness 
to  let  her* go?  —  the  soft,  brown  fluttering  dove. 

They  said  good-night.  Then  he  turned.  It  was  a 
cruel  deed  on  his  part. 


NELLY  KQTNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  219 

"  Daisy,"  he  had  always  called  her  Miss  Enclicott 
before,  — "  Daisj^,  you  will  not  allow  this  new-comer  to 
crowd  me  out?  I  ought  to  retain  some  of  the  rights  of  a 
friend,  surely."  His  voice  sank  to  that  low,  entreating 
sweetness.  "Promise." 

"  Yes,"  she  answered  softly,  overcome  by  some  subtle 
knowledge.  Then  he  raised  her  hand,  and  pressed  an 
eager  kiss  upon  it. 

She  did  not  think,  "  He  loves  me."  Her  shyness  and 
humility  would  have  forbidden  that  until  he  confessed  it. 
She  was  on  a  wide,  delicious  sea,  satisfied  to  drift  care 
lessly  into  port. 

She  opened  the  hall-door  slowly.  A  softened  light 
came  from  the  dining-room,  where  they  were  at  the  table, 
with  the  addition  of  Miss  Howe,  who  had  "  run  over"  to 
discuss  her  new  plans.  She  was  to  go  to  Paris  in  Septem 
ber. 

"  Well,  truant !  "  was  the  gay  exclamation.  "  You  and 
Miss  Graham  did  not  quite  conclude  to  play  babes  in  the 
wood.  Oh,  what  beautiful  grasses !  Did  you  go  to  the 
hotel?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Daisy.  Miss  Howe's  voice  restored 
her  to  ever3'-day  life. 

"  Did  you  see  her  dress?  Isn't  it  exquisite?  You  are 
not  going  to  the  hop?  It  is  the  last  at  Eastwoods." 

"  No,"  returned  Mrs.  Glyndon. 

"You  staid  late,"  said  Nelly  gently. 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Kinnard,  think  of  girls'  confidences 
over  new  gowns  !  I  remember  of  holding  some  lengthy 
ones  a  decade  ago  ;  and  I  am  still  fond  of  pretty  dresses. 
—  What  were  we  talking  of,  Mrs.  Glyndoii?  Oh,  those 
French  apartments !  I  think  the}^  would  be  pleasanter. 
We  shall  have  Mrs.  McLean  to  matronize  us,  you  know. 
YvThen  I  went  before  with  papa,  we  were  at  hotels  ;  but 
that  was  merely  touring.  Now  I  expect  to  live." 

Daisy  took  her  place,  and  ate  her  supper.     Afterward, 


220  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

she  changed  her  dress  ;  for  some  one  always  dropped  in. 
Circumstances,  and  not  any  design  of  her  own,  had  given 
her  a  secret,  too  rare  and  precious  to  be  brought  out  to 
common  day.  And  with  secrets  begins  danger. 

Van  Alstyne  was  over  the  next  afternoon  with  Miss 
Howe,  who  teased  him  concerning  a  rosebud  one  of  the 
ladies  at  the  hotel  had  given  him. 

"  I  think  you  are  envious,"  he  said  plaj-fully.  "  Here, 
I  am  going  to  leave  it  to  perish  in  Miss  Endicott's  hair. 
It  could  not  have  a  better  fate." 

He  leaned  over  and  fastened  it,  hiding  the  blushing 
face  in  a  friendly  manner,  and  giving  one  daring  glance 
into  the  frightened  eyes. 

"Wiry,  Severn  Point  will  be  almost  deserted  when 
your  party  go,"  said  Mrs.  Glyndon.  "What  will  you 
do?  "  and  she  turned  to  Van  Alstyne. 

"  I  don't  see  why  I  should  rush  off  to  the  city  amid 
the  sweltering  heat  of  August,"  he  replied  impatiently. 
"  If  3'ou  are  tired  of  me,  I  might  take  a  hunting-tour  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains  until  New  York  gets  habitable 
once  more." 

"Why,  no:  we  are  not  tired  of  you,"  and  she  gave 
him  a  rather  puzzled  look  ;  "  but  I  think,  sometimes,  that 
3*ou  are  tired  of  j'ourself.  Summer  holidays  are  delight 
ful  ;  but  life  is  not  all  summer." 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  daintily.  "  It  will  be  time 
enough  to  think  of  winter  by  and  b}'.  I  daresay  I  shall 
astonish  you,  some  day,  by  a  vast  amount  of  hidden  and 
well  seasoned  talent." 

"I  only  hope  you  will,"  said  Miss  Howe.  "I  know 
well  enough  that  }'ou  could." 

"  For  instance,  when  the  divining-finger  of  love  touches 
me;"  and  his  eyes  wandered  in  a  downcast  manner  to 
Daisy  Endicott. 

"  Van  Alstyne  !  "  cried  Miss  Howe  sharply.  "  A  man 
who  depends  upon  love  for  his  redemption  is  hardly  worth 
saving." 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  221 

"Perhaps  I  am  not.  I  don't  know,"  he  said  with 
strange,  sad  softness. 

Mr.  Dudley  came,  according  to  arrangement.  He  was 
looking  quite  worn  now.  There  was  nothing  in  his 
appearance  to  compare  with  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,  it  was 
true  ;  and  yet  his  was  a  fine,  scholarly  face,  with  truthful 
63-68,  and  a  frank  smile,  — a  man  who  gave  the  impres 
sion  of  much  quiet  courage  and  persistence  ;  who,  though 
not  lacking  in  energy,  would  win  more  souls  by  his  tire 
less  patience  than  by  hurrying  them  out  of  danger. 

They  had  to  talk,  first  of  all,  about  Edgerly.  The  fever 
had  been  worse  than  Dr.  Kinnard  had  admitted  to  them. 

"But  he  is  just  the  man  to  take  such  a  matter  in 
hand,"  explained  Mr.  Dudley  in  a  glow  of  admiration. 
"  He  did  one  good  thing, — cleared  out  Hull's  Row  root 
and  branch ;  and  the  whole  block  is  torn  down  to  make 
room  for  something  better.  Why,  the  basement-walls  were 
thick  with  mould.  The  worst  cases  of  fever  were  there ; 
and,  when  three  died  in  one  day,  the  authorities  found  it 
was  high  time  to  bestir  themselves.  I  wish  he  could  be 
put  in  president  of  the  Board  of  Health :  he  wouldn't  go 
at  evils  with  light  kid  gloves,  I  assure  you." 

Nelly  smiled  appreciatively.  "  I  have  been  afraid  all 
the  time  that  something  would  happen  to  him." 

"  He  has  such  a  magnificent  physique,  Mrs.  Kinnard! 
And  then  —  didn't  you  leave  a  little  of  yourself  in  the 
house?"  with  a  quick,  questioning  smile.  "Mrs.  Chase 
went  away ;  and  the  doctor,  j*ou  see,  made  me  come  but 
and  spend  the  nights  with  him.  It  is  all  so  different  from 
what  it  used  to  be  !  —  I  can't  exactly  tell,  but  wonderfully 
enjoyable  ;  and  it  made  me  think  continually  of  you." 

Mr.  Van  Alstyne  felt  a  good  deal  annoyed  at  the 
"parson's  freedom,"  as  he  termed  it.  In  a  fit  of  morti 
fied  vanity,  he  half  resolved  to  go  away.  The  little 
Endicott  might  get  fond  of  him." 

Then  he  discovered,  with   a   man's   sharp   eyes,  that 

19* 


222  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

Arthur  Dudley  was  not  altogether  insensible  to  her 
charms.  No,  he  would  stay  and  see  the  fun  out. 

The  party  had  diminished  so  much,  that  Mr.  Dudley 
and  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  were  the  only  constant  attendants. 
The  drives,  the  sails,  and  rambles  were  to  be  taken  over 
again.  He  had  either  Daisy  or  Mrs.  Kinnard  for  a 
companion. 

He  used  to  fancy  sometimes,  that,  if  he  had  met  her 
before  her  foolish  marriage,  —  it  was  always  foolish  to 
him,  —  she  might  have  been  the  one  woman  to  awaken 
his  ambition,  and  lead  him  in  some  useful  path.  He 
quite  forgot  the  many  brilliant  and  rarely  endowed  women 
who  had  crossed  his  way.  Still  there  was  something 
eminently  attractive  in  her  very  directness,  her  truth,  and 
honor.  Even  a  friendship  with  her  —  there  would  be  no 
breach  of  decorum  in  that. 

Ah  !  her  eyes  were  too  clear.  She  had  been  trained,  in 
her  simple  home,  to  finer  reasonings  than  the  picturesque 
imaginings  of  what  might  have  been  under  different  cir 
cumstances,  or  the  so-called  metaphysical  distinctions 
that  confuse  vice  and  virtue.  He  was  a  handsome, 
attractive,  cultured  man  ;  but  his  specious  arguments  had 
no  more  weight  with  her  from  that  fact.  His  dangerous 
beauty  could  make  no  impression  on  this  woman  ;  and  it 
stung  him  keenly. 

There  was  a  week  or  ten  days  of  odd,  under-current 
skirmishing.  Mrs.  Kinnard  was  throwing  her  sister  into 
Mr.  Dudley's  hands,  that  was  evident ;  and  Dudley  was 
going  into  the  realms  of  fancy  with  rapid  strides.  But 
he  could  summon  Miss  Endicott  back  again.  There  was 
a  subtle  understanding  between,  —  something  that  would 
have  been  quite  indescribable  on  Daisy's  part,  had  she 
wanted  to  confess  it ;  and  no  pure,  sweet  soul  like  hers 
could  have  talked  over  a  suspected  love.  It  had  not  come 
near  enough  to  isolate  her,  not  even  to  set  her  thinking 
what  this  friendly  tenderness  on  Mr.  Dudley's  part  meant. 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  223 

September  came  in  brilliantly,  with  magnificent  sun 
sets  that  made  the  sea  a  glow  of  fire.  Dr.  Kinnard  was 
to  come  for  a  week,  and  then  the  household  would  break 
np ;  Mrs.  Glyndon  going  on  a  westward  tour  with  her 
husband.  Nelly  counted  the  daj's  from  no  spirit  of 
ungraciousness,  but  a  positive  longing  for  relief  from  the 
strain  upon  her.  A  thrilling  fear  had  taken  possession 
of  her.  Save  Daisy  she  must,  if  she  exerted  herself  to 
the  utmost ;  and  never  had  Van  Alstyne  made  himself 
more  dangerous.  She  had  the  strong  safeguard  of  a 
husband's  love.,  and  her  own  honor;  but  how  was  Daisy, 
to  know  the  shoals  and  quicksands  of  this  desperate 
tide! 

This  was  what  Van  Alstyne  liked.  He  could  not 
understand  her  noble  impulse ;  but  he  saw  she  was  re 
solved  to  keep  him  away  from  her  sister,  even  if  she 
made  the  utmost  exertion.  It  brought  out  the  latent 
forces  of  her  nature,  many  charming  little  ways  that  a 
society-belle  might  have  envied  for  their  daint}7  piquancy. 

"I  shall  have  one  more  entertainment,"  said  Mrs. 
Gbyndon.  ' '  I  want  to  ask  the  Daventrj-s  and  the  Max 
wells  ;  but  I  am  a  little  puzzled ; ' '  and  there  she 
paused. 

"About  what?"  asked  Daisy,  looking  up  from  her 
game  of  chess  with  Van  Alstyne,  who  was  playing  shame 
fully  into  her  hands. 

"I  want  it  to  be  real  charming,  of  course.  If  the 
Howe  party  were  here,  we  would  make  it  music  and  con 
versation  ;  but  the  Daventry  girls  are  extravagantby  fond 
of  dancing.  Dr.  Kinnard  and  Mr.  Dudley  will  be  here, 
and  how  to  suit  the  different  tastes  "  — 

"  "Why,  have  everything,"  said  Van  Alstyne,  looking 
up  with  a  glow  of  interest,  —  talking  for  the  sedate,  music 
for  the  sentimental,  and  dancing  for  such  commonplace 
people  as  Miss  Endicott  and  I.  There  !  why  do  you  not 
say  '  check  ? '  You  may  never  have  so  good  a  chance 
again." 


224  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  You  have  not  been  tiying  in  real  earnest." 

"And  j-ou  consider  me  of  so  little  worth,  that  you 
won't  even  take  me  at  a  game  of  chess." 

"I  —  oh!"  and  Daisj' blushed  distressfully  under  the 
glance  of  the  deep  eyes. 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Glyndon,  that  will  be  the  best  of  all,"  he 
•went  on.  "  And  then  one  of  your  dainty  suppers." 

"  There  is  not  much  space  for  dancing;  but,  if  I  do 
undertake  it,  I  want  your  very  best  assistance,  Mr.  Van 
Alstyne.  No  indolent  indifference,  mind  3*011.  I  should 
hate  to  have  a  failure." 

"  We  could  open  Nelly's  room,  you  know,"  said  Daisy. 

"  And  have  the  band  from  the  hotel.  Why,  let  me  see, 
next  Wednesdaj-,  it  will  be  almost  full  moon." 

' '  Just  magnificent !  Now  you  have  it  all  without  any 
trouble." 

"I  think  we  might  make  it  really  delightful.  And 
there  is  Mrs.  Kinnard  and  Bertie." 

Van  Alstyne  bent  over  to  pick  up  a  fallen  chessman. 
"Remember,"  he  said,  "you  are  engaged  to  me  fora 
good  share  of  the  dancing.  Have  you  forgotten  that  my 
very  first  introduction  to  you  was  as  partner  for  a  qua 
drille?" 

No,  she  had  not.  And  she  was  touched  by  his  remem 
brance  of  it. 

They  sent  out  their  invitations,  and  everybody  began  to 
count  on  the  pleasure.  Afterward  there  would  be  a  gen 
eral  dispersion.  Even  Van  Alstj'ne  spoke  of  taking  a 
little  run  up  in  Canada. 

Tuesday  brought  Dr.  Kinnard.  Nelly  welcomed  him 
with  an  hysterical  cry  of  joy. 

"  Well,  you  see  I  am  not  worn  to  skin  and  bone  by 
any  means,"  he  said  laughingly.  "  I  think  I  could  go 
through  another  summer  with  tolerable  comfort,  though  I 
prefer  an  autumn  sandwiched  between.  But  I  am  quite 
satisfied  with  you.  Why,  }-ou  are  positively  radiant. 
Won't  you  be  ashamed  of  an  old  chap  like  me? " 


NELLY  KLNSTABD'S  KINGDOM.  225 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  have  you,  so  glad  !  "  she  cried  with 
quivering  lips. 

"  I  do  bolieve  }-ou  are.  No  handsome  j'oung  man  has 
put  you  out  of  conceit  with  j*our  old  fellow?  Come,  I 
will  not  have  any  tears  for  my  welcome." 

They  rambled  together  out  of  doors  all  the  evening. 
Van  Alstyne  supposed  her  in  her  room,  and  was  a  little 
vexed  at  her  sudden  desertion,  enforced,  as  he  insisted  it 
must  be.  Mrs.  Glyndon  sent  both  men  home  early, 
declaring  she  and  Miss  Endicott  could  not  afford  to  lose 
their  beauty  sleep. 

They  were  busy  enough  the  next  day,  preparing,  and 
adorning  the  rooms.  Mr.  Dudley  brought  in  some 
branches  of  sumach,  and  clusters  of  scarlet  maple-leaves. 
The  weather  was  still  warm  ;  and  the  evening  promised  to 
be  exceptionally  fine.  The  band  came,  and  was  stationed 
on  the  balcony.  The  rooms  were  all  thrown  open ;  the 
guests  began  to  assemble  with  most  cordial  greetings. 
Colored  lanterns  had  been  hung  around,  giving  the  house 
quite  a  gala  appearance. 

George  Van  Alstyne  was  in  a  most  daring  and  bewil 
dering  mood.  Mrs.  Kinnard  looked  radiant  to-night,  and 
he  meant  to  make  her  bestow  a  good  deal  of  attention 
upon  him,  if  he  flirted  desperately  with  Daisy  Endicott  to 
gain  it. 

And  Daisy?  She,  too,  was  touched  by  the  vague 
something  in  the  atmosphere.  A  peculiar  knowledge  had 
come  to  her,  like  a  blinding  flash  of  light ;  and  it  had  not 
brought  happiness.  When  she  first  came  down,  Arthur 
Dudley  stood  in  the  hall.  He  turned  for  one  quick 
glance. 

Her  soft  white  dress  and  white  sash  gave  her  a  sugges 
tive  bridal  look,  relieved  only  by  a  knot  of  scarlet  leaves 
in  her  hair,  and  another  at  her  throat.  The  dewy  eyes, 
the  faint  tint  in  the  checks,  the  smiling,  summer-ripe  lips, 
and  the  fair,  clear  skin,  made  her  beautiful  as  youth. 


226  KELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

health,  and  happiness  only  can.  Oddly  enough,  Van  Al- 
styne  had  chosen  her  attire.  She  was  thinking  of  that. 
Arthur  Dudley  thought,  "  How  fair  she  is  !  the  one  woman 
in  the  world  for  me.  Does  she  know,  does  she  guess,  that 
I  love  her?  "  and  then  some  fatal  impetuosity  lured  him 
forward.  He  crossed  the  hall,  took  both  hands  in  his, 
stooped  and  kissed  her,  and  then  would  have  given  any 
thing  to  recall  the  hasty  impulse. 

"  Forgive,"  he  murmured  softly,  entreating^. 

She  turned  with  a  blushing  face.  Some  one  spoke  in 
the  hall  above.  There  was  a  stir  out  of  doors  ;  and  she 
was  glad  to  escape. 

There  was  no  thrill  of  joy,  rather  a  shiver  of  pain. 
And  why  ?  Last  spring  and  summer  she  had  liked  him 
so  much !  Had  these  ten  weeks  changed  her  feelings  ? 
She  was  ignorant  no  longer.  Her  eyes  were  opened  to 
that  sweet  mystery. 

"  But  I  cannot,  cannot  love  him  !  "  she  cried  to  her 
self  despairingly  ;  and  her  whole  being  seemed  tossed  in 
a  rebellion  of  unrest. 

The  guests  were  coming.  She  flitted  from  one  to  an 
other  5  she  welcomed  with  e}-es  that  had  never  been  so 
brilliant,  in  their  agony  of  shame  and  pain.  She  must 
evade  him,  at  any  cost.  Ah !  here  was  a  cool  masterty 
voice. 

"  Come  out  and  walk  a  little.  Why,  you  are  all  flushed 
and  heated  :  what  have  }TOU  been  doing  ?  There  is  3- our 
sister  and  Mrs.  Glyndon  to  play  hostess." 

He  led  her  down  the  steps.  Nelly  Kinnard  saw  it. 
What  words  of  his  could  have  so  excited  the  sunny, 
tranquil-hearted  child.  Where  were  they  going? 

"What  or  who  are  3'ou  looking  for,  Nelly?"  asked 
her  husband. 

"  Not  much  of  any  thing,"  she  answered  incoherently 
with  a  nervous  laugh. 

The  company  gathered  into  little  knots  for  talk,  or  to 


NELLY  KESTNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  227 

look  at  engravings.  Mrs.  Glyndon  moved  among  them 
with  charming  social  tact  and  grace. 

' '  Do  you  know  where  Van  Alstyne  has  gone  ?  '  she 
asked  suddenly  of  Nelly. 

A  sudden  accession  of  color  overspread  Nelly  Kinnard's 
face,  and  her  eyes  drooped. 

"  Isn't  he  in  the  hall  somewhere?" 

There  were  two  shrewd  eyes  watching  her.  It  was  so 
unusual  to  see  her  evade  any  thing.  She  gave  a  quick, 
startled  glance  around.  Dr.  Kinnard  was  talking  with 
portly  Mrs.  Daventry  :  so  she  slipped  away.  Ten  minutes 
afterward  that  handsome  Van  Alstyne  was  in  her  train. 
Had  she  known  where  he  was  ? 

They  two  kept  up  quite  a  brilliant  circle  until  the  dan 
cing  began.  Van  Alstyne  hunted  up  Daisy  for  the  first 
quadrille.  To-night  he  really  danced  ;  and  it  was  a  swift, 
beautiful  tracery,  winding  in  and  out,  curves,  halts,  steps, 
and  swaying  to  and  fro  like  some  great  shadowy  bird. 
He  let  her  go  from  him  with  a  lingering  glance  ;  and  his 
outstretched  hands  welcomed  her  back,  claimed  her  with  a 
sweetness  and  tenderness  doubty  dangerous.  Nelly  saw 
it  all.  Did  he  love  her  ?  but  no.  It  was  amusement  to 
him  —  what  to  her  ? 

Afterward  he  had  Miss  Maxwell  for  a  partner ;  but 
Daisy  was  in  the  same  quadrille.  Then  there  was  a  gal 
lop  with  him.  It  seemed  to  Nelly  as  if  she  could  not 
endure  it.  And  in  the  pause  she  summoned  him  to  her 
side  again.  Should  she  warn  Daisy?  Well,  of  what? 
These  other  girls  plainly  put  themselves  in  his  way  :  she 
did  not.  Oh  if  the  evening  would  come  to  an  end ! 

There  was  another  round  of  dancing,  then  supper,  one 
of  Mrs.  Glynclon's  elegant  little  feasts,  with  the  first- 
fruits  of  the  season,  — luscious  peaches,  grapes  in  frosty 
purple  bloom,  pears  in  yellow  with  satin-smooth  skins,  or 
in  russet  crimson.  Van  Alstyne  did  his  part  well  here. 

Talking,  promenading,  and  dancing.    Gay  little  laughs. 


228  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

bright  faces,  soft  voices,  entrancing  moonlight,  and  that 
stirring,  passionate  music  that  touched  some  chord  in 
every  heart,  —  a  pretty,  bewildering  scene. 

Dr.  Kinnard  missed  his  wife,  and  walked  slow^  down 
the  balcony  steps.  He  was  rather  proud  of  the  admira 
tion  she  had  won,  only  — 

Yonder  in  the  path  were  two  people,  — Daisy  and  Mr. 
Maxwell.  They  came  up  slowly,  and  passed  him.  Two 
more  were  lingering  behind,  talking  earnestly.  Could  it 
be?  Yes,  Nelly  and  that  audacious  gallant. 

Dr.  Kinnard  stood  quite  still  in  a  tempest  of  passion 
that  sent  his  blood  to  white-heat.  He  had  never  before 
been  jealous  of  a  woman  in  the  ordinarj^  sense.  He  had 
seen  his  first  wife  waltzing  in  the  arms  of  other  men  ;  and, 
though  he  had  mildly  disapproved,  it  had  stirred  no  hot 
blood  within  him.  But  now  there  flashed  over  him  a 
remembrance  of  Nelly's  almost  electrical  nervousness, 
her  restless  going  to  and  fro,  her  apparent  delight  in, 
and  almost  effort  to  gain,  Van  Alstyne's  society,  her 
embarrassment  at  Mrs.  Glyndon's  question,  —  a  sudden, 
appalling,  overwhelming  flash,  striking  at  and  twisting 
his  strength  as  lightning  might  an  oak.  All  summer  she 
had  been  here  with  that  man,  handsome  and  tempting  as 
Lucifer  himself — 

Some  one  passed  him ;  then  another  step,  a  flutter 
ing  dress,  a  pause  —  he  had  sunk  on  a  rustic  seat  some 
moments  before. 

"O  Barton!  " 

Two  soft  arms  were  about  his  neck.  He  shook  them 
off  roughly.  "Don't!"  he  said  in  a  hoarse,  strained 
voice,  rising. 

She  stood  before  him.  The  movement  had  turned  her 
toward  the  light  while  he  was  still  in  the  shade. 

"O  Barton!"  she  cried  in  sweet,  piercing  accents, 
"  wh.it  is  it?" 

For  an  instant  longer,  he  writhed  in  the  grasp  of  the 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  229 

foul  fiend.  Oh  !  he  must  believe  in  her,  or  life  would  not 
be  woi'th  the  having.  He  knew  then  how  a  man  could 
love ;  he  realized,  too,  that  the  strength  of  their  bridal 
tenderness  was  but  a  pj'gmy  to  this  giant.  He  studied 
her  face  with  a  fierce,  hungry  eagerness.  Could  one  line 
of  it  be  false  or  weak  ? 

It  was  very  pale  now,  the  ej-es  with  a  piteous,  fright 
ened  look,  the  lips  quivering,  the  lines  tense  ;  and  she  put 
out  her  hand  in  an  uncertain  way,  as  if  groping  about. 

He  took  her  in  his  arms,  and  reseated  himself.  There 
was  a  moment  of  strange  silence  between  them. 

"  Nelly,  do  you  remember  our  bridal  day?  If  it  were 
to  be  done  over  again  "  — 

"  Well,  if  it  were,"  and  there  was  a  tremulous,  cry 
ing  sound  in  her  voice  —  "I  should  be  glad  only  that  I 
might  give  myself  to  }"ou  again." 

He  pressed  her  closer.  Could  he,  dared  he,  doubt?  He 
understood  now  the  immeasurable  power  of  loving  that 
he  possessed.  He  was  not  a  naturally  suspicious  man  ; 
but  there  was  a  certain  degree  of  faithlesness  in  his 
temperament  that  had  led  him  to  question  somewhat  the 
entireness  of  the  "  divine  passion."  Not  an  hour  through 
all  this  separation,  but  he  had  longed  for  her  so  earnestly, 
that,  more  than  once,  it  had  seemed  quite  impossible  to  do 
without  her,  even  though  important  duties  pressed  him 
on  every  side.  But  his  engrossing  and  single-hearted 
love  demanded  the  same  quality  in  return.  Had  she  — 

"O  Barton,  Barton!"  she  cried  with  a  strange 
anguish  in  her  voice,  "what  is  it?  Tell  me  what  I 
have  done  ?  ' ' 

So  entirely  true  had  she  been  to  him  in  her  thoughts, 
that  she  did  not  even  suspect  what  thus  suddenly  roused 
him. 

There  was  a  quick  revulsion  of  feeling  on  his  part. 

' '  I  have  been  an  old  fool,  Nell}',"  he  said  with  a  grim 
sort  of  tremulousness  in  his  voice.  "Forgive  me.  It 
was  all  my  own"  — 


230  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

How  could  he  confess  his  suspicion  ? 

A  tremor  ran  through  her  frame.  A  glimmer  of  light 
dawned  upon  her. 

" Barton,  you  did  not  think" — and  there  was  a  sort 
of  hysterical  tenderness  in  her  tone,  perhaps  because  she 
knew  by  that  tight  clasp  how  dear  she  was  to  him. 

"I  am  afraid  I  did,  Nelly.  Let  us  have  the  foul  fiend 
out  now,  and  then  bury  him  forever.  I  know  you  love 
me.  Good  heavens !  to  doubt  that  would  be  to  plunge 
me  to  unknown  depths." 

"  Was  it  because  I  was  there  in  the  walk  with  Mr. 
Van  Alstyne?"  she  asked  with  a  certain  breathless- 
ness. 

"Not  altogether.  I  may  as  well  confess  wholly. 
Nelly,  I  never  knew  you  to  act  an  untruth,  even.  But 
to-night  when  Mrs.  Glyndon  asked  about  him  —  and  then 
you  found  him  in  a  little  while.  Don't  torment  me,  my 
darling,  though  I  admit  I  deserve  it.  I  know  you  can 
make  a  fair  and  straight  story  of  it." 

She  was  trembling  violently  now.  It  seemed  almost 
cruel  to  ask  her  to  speak. 

"  I  will  tell  3-011  just  the  truth.  I  did  not  know  where 
he  was ;  but  I  felt  that  he  was  with  Daisy.  Barton,  I 
have  come  to  think  him  a  dangerous  man  for  a  young 
girl,  or  a  woman  who  had  no  safeguard,"  and  she  paused 
to  kiss  him  impulsively.  "  It  is  only  lately  that  he  has 
appeared  to  be  specially  interested  in  Daisy." 

"I  see  it  all,  my  dear,  dear  wife!  How  horribly 
unjust  of  me  !  What  shall  I  do  to  make  amends?  Nelly, 
you  must  know  how  much  you  are  to  me,  when  "  — 

Perhaps  she  liked  him  none  the  less  for  his  quick  and 
jealous  regard.  She  almost  smiled  now,  and  gave  him 
a  tender  little  caress  that  quite  assured  him  of  her 
forgiveness. 

"And  Daisy?  But  you  don't  think  —  why,  Dudley 
cares  for  her,  I  know  ;  and  I  hoped  "  — 


NELLY  KJNNAJRD'S  KINGDOM.  231 

"I  trust  Daisy  does  not  care  for  him.  It  would  be 
quite  useless,"  with  a  great  tremble  in  her  voice. 
"Neither  do  I  think  this  is  love  on  his  part." 

"  And  lias  Mrs.  Glyndon  no  more  sense  than  to  give 
that  handsome  and  fascinating  •  fellow  the  run  of  the 
house?"  asked  the  doctor  with  much  warmth. 

"  Mrs.  Glyndon  has  managed  beautifull}'.  If  }-ou  had 
been  here,  j'ou  would  have  given  her  credit  for  unbounded 
wisdom.  She  put  him  in  his  proper  place,  a  society-man, 
who  liked  amusement,  and  was  not  of  the  marrying  kind. 
While  Miss  Howe's  party  was  here,  there  were  several 
brilliant  women,  and  every  thing  appeared  so  different ! 
It  has  only  been  lately ;  and  to-night  he  is  like  one 
bewitched.  I  felt  that  I  must  save  her.  We  are  going 
back  so  soon  !  " 

"My  darling,  yes.  I  thank  you  for  your  truth  and 
simplicity.  I  may  be  hasty  and  passionate,  Nelly,  when 
something  rouses  me  bej-ond  reason  and  judgment ;  but 
my  faith  in  you  is  perfect  for  all  time  to  come.  Still  I 
shall  not  forget  that  }-ou  might  have  married  a  3'ounger 
and  more  attractive  man  ;  and  that  God  means,  in  so  bright 
and  brief  a  season  as  youth,  that  one  shall  see  things 
with  enchanted  eyes.  I  want  to  make  you  very,  very 
happy  :  I  may  blunder  in  it  at  times  ;  but  it  is  my  heart's 
desire." 

"  It  is  not  all  on  your  side,"  she  replied  quickly.  "  I 
have  something  to  give  and  to  do.  And  there  will  alwaj's 
be  perfect  confidence  between  us." 

It  was  very  sweet  to  think  of,  such  confidence ;  not 
the  mere  gossip  of  every-day  affairs,  but  the  true  magnet 
that  attracted  the  higher  nobility  of  love,  the  finest  per 
ceptions  of  spiritual  as  well  as  ordinary  life,  sjinpathies, 
tenderness,  and  mutual  regard  to  the  one  grand  centre. 

She  had  needed  him  so  much,  that  she  would  gladly 
have  staid  until  the  last  light  was  out ;  but  his  practical 
mood  recalled  him  presently. 


232  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  Had  we  not  better  return?  "  he  asked  in  a  half-regret 
ful  tone.  "I  suppose  it  is  a  crime  against  modern 
manners  to  make  love  to  3'our  own  wife,  while  the  state 
of  modern  ethics  does  not  prohibit  making  love  to  your 
neighbor's  ;  "  and  he  gave  a  drj-,  humorous  laugh. 

"  "We  must,  indeed  ;  "  and  she  rose. 

The  tide  of  enjoyment  had  begun  to  wane  a  little,  or 
taken  on  a  quieter  tone.  Groups  were  listening  to  the 
music  now,  with  a  pleased,  languid  air.  Some  one  said, 
'4  O  Mrs.  Kinnard !  "  and  she  turned.  Mr.  Van  Alstyne 
was  talking  to  Miss  Daventry,  and  there  were  half  a 
do.zen  others  around. 

She  stood  there  beside  her  husband  in  her  glowing  and 
serene  womanhood,  larger  than  any  pure  girl-life  could 
be,  no  matter  how  beautiful.  She  was  proud  of  his  man 
liness,  his  strength,  his  simple  justice,  and,  oh !  above  all, 
of  his  deep,  underlying  love.  It  never  could  fail  or  for 
sake,  or  grow  exacting,  through  any  narrowness.  And 
Van  Alstyne  understood  then  the  secret  of  her  gracious- 
ness,  the  good  companionship  that  could  entertain  a 
friend  apart  from  any  personal  attraction,  any  exercise 
of  self-love.  A  whole  lifetime  of  the  rarest  and  most 
delicate  flattery  would  not  cause  her  allegiance  to  waver. 
He  understood  then  that  she  loved  her  husband  as 
women  seldom  do,  not  a  mere  negative  trust  because  they 
have  found  no  strong  comparison  or  temptation,  neither 
the  shallow  engrossment  of  sentimental  fondness  ;  for  she 
had  been  tried,  and  escaped  quite  scathless.  He  could 
not  recall  one  smile  :  he  had  never  even  ventured  to  kiss 
her  hand.  Always  she  had  been  hedged  around  with 
that  halo  better  than  propriety,  —  the  sacredness  of 
love. 

I  ought  to  saj-  it  touched  him  and  moved  him  deeply, 
and  turned  his  wavering  fondness  toward  Daisy  Endicott, 
who  would  be  hardlj'  less  to  her  husband.  But  the  man 
was  too  innately  selfish  for  any  good  impression  to  last 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  233 

long.     As  his  wife,  a  woman  of  Daisy  Endicott's  tem 
perament  would  have  died,  in  a  few  years,  of  mental 
atrophy.     He  would  have  absorbed  all,  and  given  nothing 
back,  but  kept  himself  for  the  worfd,  society. 
20* 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  How  given  for  nought  her  priceless  gift! 
How  spoiled  the  bread,  and  spilled  the  wine ! 
Which,  spent  with  due  respective  thrift, 
Had  made  all  lives  alike  divine." 

THE  evening  was  not  to  close  without  another  impor 
tant  incident. 

Since  his  unlucky  half-confession,  Mr.  Dudley  had 
hesitated  to  encounter  Dais}',  although  he  felt  that  some 
explanation  and  apology  were  due  her.  He  could  not 
believe  that  he  had  entirety  ruined  his  cause  by  his  pre 
cipitancy.  There  had  been  a  simple,  girlish  charm  in 
Daisy's  frankness  through  the  earlier  part  of  their 
acquaintance.  He  had  treasured  up  man}T  a  little  episode, 
and  dreamed  over  it  for  the  last  two  months. 

The  rides  and  rambles  they  had  taken  together,  the 
times  he  had  come  upon  her  suddenly,  ministering  in  Mrs. 
Kinnard's  stead  to  some  of  her  poor  parishioners,  the 
chapel  improvements  they  had  discussed,  the  books  and 
pictures  they  both  liked,  the  pleasant  temper  (he  had  seen 
it  tried  a  little),  the  inspiriting  sunniness  that  would 
brighten  a  house  so  delightfully.  Unconscioush",  perhaps, 
one  of  the  charms  that  rendered  Dr.  Kinnard's  hospitality 
so  beguiling  was  the  fact  that  the  house  was  still  filled 
with  her  presence.  He  had  watched  her  bending  over 
this  couch  where  Bertie  had  lain,  her  face  full  of  genuine 
sympath}r  and  hopefulness.  Here  the  small,  graceful 
figure  had  been  half  lost  in  a  great  easy-chair,  suggest 
ively  large  enough  for  two.  Over  opposite,  she  had  sung 

234 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  235 

through,  dreamy  twilights,  sweet  low  songs,  tender,  plain 
tive  Irymns,  that  were  enough  of  themselves  to  draw  souls 
to  Christ. 

It  would  be  worth  one's  while  to  strive  for  such  a 
woman.  How  invaluable  she  would  be  in  parish  work 
with  her  ready  kindness  and  homelike  graces !  How 
doubly  dear  by  the  fireside,  when  the  waves  of  the  trou 
blesome  world  ran  high,  the  sweet  cheer  and  adaptiveness 
of  her  temperament  soothing,  adjusting,  bringing  bit  by 
bit  out  of  the  golden  treasurj*  of  the  soul,  that  one  might 
not  be  overwhelmed,  or  afraid  to  choose,  or,  on  the  other 
hand,  stinted  in  any  thing  ! 

Yet  he  was  not  the  sort  of  man  to  dream  listlessly 
about  love.  When  he  felt  the  august  power  penetrating 
eveiy  pulse  with  its  subtle  vitality,  when  he  realized  how 
much  fuller  and  more  blessed  life  would  be  with  her  at 
his  side,  he  confessed  the  truth  simply  to  himself,  and 
resolved  to  win  her.  He  did  not  think  much  about  his 
poverty,  since  he  had  youth  and  health.  God  would  send 
labor  and  wages  in  the  right  time.  From  her  mother  she 
must  have  learned  the  cares  and  rewards  of  such  a  life,  — 
the  struggles  and  bits  of  rare  pleasure,  the  toil  and  rest, 
the  pain  and  joy  following,  and  lapping  over  into  one 
another  like  the  seasons  of  the  year,  and  of  the  going-on 
to  riper  days,  leaving  3'outh  behind,  yet  not  growing  old, 
and  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  from  within. 

So  he  went  over  to  Severn  Point  prepared  to  ask  her, 
expecting  to  come  back  a  happy  man,  with  a  lovely  house^ 
hold  vision  before  him,  —  the  holy  duty  of  caring  for  her, 
of  smoothing  rough  ways,  of  sheltering  in  his  strong 
arms,  of  ministering  to,  and  of  receiving  in  turn,  of 
rounding,  satisfying,  and  slipping  into  rest  and  peaca 
together. 

They  welcomed  him  so  cordially  into  their  midst !  they 
brought  out  their  olden  pleasures,  not  grown  trite  with 
repetition.  She  was  changed,  in  some  way,  —  become 


236  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

larger  and  richer,  it  seemed,  with  an  ease  and  culture 
that  served  to  make  her  more  beguiling,  not  better  worth 
the  winning  :  that  could  never  be  in  his  thought  of  her. 

He  hardly  disturbed  himself  about  Van  Alstyne.  He 
had  taken  the  man  at  his  true  estimate,  as  he  had  Daisy 
Endicott.  He  could  see  her  on  all  sides,  outwardly,  and 
judged  her  with  a  more  generous  understanding  than  a 
narrower-minded  man  could  have  done.  And  he  knew 
now  how  deep  and  fervent  a  reality  his  love  was. 

When  she  came  down  stairs  so  fresh  and  simply  sweet, 
her  face  aglow  with  the  radiance  of  youth  and  pleasure, 
propriety  was  swept  away.  He  forgot  the  things  he  had 
dreamed  over  so  often  might  be  quite  new  to  her,  and 
took  her  in  his  arms  with  that  spontaneous  outburst  of 
love,  capable  of  making  them  one  indeed,  had  their 
hearts  beat  in  unison,  —  the  caress  that  would  have  told 
all  without  a  word. 

He  could  not  decide  whether  her  strange,  shy  emotion, 
and  her  evasion  of  him  all  the  evening,  was  displeasure, 
or  delicacy.  He  was  ready  to  blame  himself  with  every 
breath  ;  yet  it  had  been  so  sweet  to  hold  her  there,  even 
for  that  brief  moment,  that  he  could  hardly  regret. 

But  he  felt  there  must  be  an  explanation  before  he  left, 
an  apology  for  so  disturbing  the  tranquillity  of  her  girl- 
heart.  He  waited  half-breathlessly,  watching  her  as  she 
flitted  here  and  there,  and  struck  by  a  strange  sense  of 
loss  whenever  she  was  out  of  his  sight. 

The  guests  began  to  disperse  with  cordial  good-nights 
and  many  expressions  of  enjoyment.  Some  one  was 
going  now ;  and  Daisy  ran  down  to  the  walk  for  a  last 
word  or  two.  She  surely  would  not  be  needed  for  a  few 
moments.  He  picked  up  her  shawl,  —  he  knew  it  by  the 
fleecy,  pale-blue  border,  —  came  down,  and,  folding  it 
about  her,  said  quickly,  — 

"  May  I  detain  you,  Miss  Endicott?  " 

The  suddenness  and  certain  air  of  authority  took  her 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  237 

so  by  surprise,  that  she  had  hardly  time  to  start  and 
tremble,  before  he  resumed,  — 

"  I  want  to  ask  your  pardon  for  my  rudeness  ear ty  in 
the  evening.  But  you  must  know  what  it  meant,  —  that  I 
love  you,  that  I  have  loved  and  dreamed  about  you  ever 
since  }*ou  left  Edgerly.  The  depth  and  force  of  my 
feeling  swept  me  over  the  boundaries  of  propriety  ;  but  I 
am  ready  to  answer  for  my  daring  ' '  — 

"  Oh!  "  she  interrupted  with  a  sharp,  sudden  cry,  out 
of  which  the  joy  had  gone. 

He  stood  still,  catching  at  his  own  breath,  bewildered, 
and  quite  at  sea.  Then  he  turned  her  round,  and  studied 
her  face  with  feverish  impatience,  reading  something 
more  than  mere  surprise,  —  terror. 

"Have  I  spoken  too  soon?  Forgive  me.  I  fancied 
you  must  know  ;  for  no  man  of  honor  could  offer  such  a 
caress  to  a  woman  without ' '  — 

She  saw  it  all  in  a  blinding  flash,  — the  love  that  lay  at 
her  feet.  Two  months  ago,  she  might  have  answered 
him  to  his  happiness.  Why  not  now?  What  had  come 
between  ? 

In  the  same  glare  she  saw  another  man.  If  he  stood 
speaking,  if  his  hand  were  on  her  arm,  there  would  be 
a  consenting  tenderness  instead  of  repulsion,  a  great  joy 
instead  of  trembling  pain  and  regret.  Even  now  her 
cheek  burned  with  shame  at  the  remembrance  of  the  kiss 
wherewith  he  had  expressed  his  love.  An  overwhelming 
flood  seemed  almost  to  sweep  her  away  from  any  secure 
mooring. 

"Oh,  if  you  had  not  spoken!  if  j*ou  would  take  it 
back  —  forget  it !  "  she  cried  in  passionate  anguish. 

He  studied  her  face  of  pain  and  dismay.  A  brave 
man  was  Arthur  Dudley ;  but  this  was  like  being  swept 
from  the  spar  on  which  he  had  meant  to  float  to  a  prom 
ised  haven.  There  «*was  nothing  else  at  hand :  he  had 
trusted  the  life  of  his  affection  to  that.  Still,  if  he  must 


238  NELLY  EZNNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

go  down,  it  should  be  bravely,  not  with  any  cowardly 
clinging  to  a  woman's  pity. 

"Then  yon  do  not  love  me?"  His  incisive  tone 
seemed  to  cleave  the  summer  air,  and  let  in  a  waft  of 
arctic  coldness. 

"I  "  —  she  covered  her  face  with  her  hands.  It  filled 
him  with  infinite  sorrow  as  she  swaj'ed  to  and  fro.  "  I 
am  so  sorry  !  "  — in  the  humblest  of  tones.  "  I  did  not 
mean  to  mislead  any  one.  Oh !  what  have  I  done?  " 

Her  distress  was  so  deep  and  genuine,  that  he  was  sin 
cerely  moved. 

"  My  dear  child,"  he  said  with  all  the  comfort  he  could 
put  in  his  voice,  "  it  was  nothing  you  did  with  any  pur 
pose.  God  gave  you  the  lovely  graces  of  womanhood, 
and  you  have  not  overlaid  them  with  any  false  or  meretri 
cious  ornament.  It  was  my  misfortune  to  see  and  to 
desire.  But  I  am  a  man,  and  not  blind,  which  must  be 
my  excuse.  I  see  that  I  have  surprised  you  greatly ; 
but,  Daisy,  when  you  come  to  understand  and  realize 
how  deep  and  ardent  my  regard  surely  is,  may  you  not 
learn ' '  — 

"  No,  no !  do  not  think  of  that !  "  and  she  wrung  her 
hands  with  vague  apprehension.  "  Not  but  what  you  are 
noble  enough  for  any  woman's  love,  only  it  would  be 
cruel  to  —  to  hold  out  a  hope  that  could  come  to  noth 
ing ;"  and  she  shivered  as  if  in  a  midnight  blast.  "I 
am  so  sony  !  Oh,  let  me  go  back  to  the  house  !  They 
will  wonder  "  — 

"  Tranquillize  }*ourself  a  little  ;  remember  that  you  will 
alwa3's  have  in  me  a  friend."  Yet  he  paused  to  wonder 
if  he  could  be  friend  again.  He  led  her  back  to  the 
house,  and  lingered  outside  while  she  mounted  the  steps 
wearily,  his  heart  aching  to  assist  her  with  his  strong, 
fond  clasp  ;  but  his  delicacy  assuring  him  that  she  would 
rather  enter  alone.  "* 

If  he  had  spoken  before  they  came   to   Severn  Point, 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  239 

would  it  have  been  any  better?  She  certainly  had  liked 
him  then,  given  him  a  shy,  pleased  preference.  He  felt 
bewildered,  pained,  incredulous.  There  must  be  some 
mistake,  surety.  He  would  watch  her  to-morrow,  and  for 
daj-s  to  come ;  and  if  he  saw  a  sign  of  relenting,  such  as 
she  must  make  if  she  felt  she  had  been  over-hast}",  he 
would  speak  again.  He  possessed  a  rare  quality  of  both 
patience  and  hope. 

The  guests  had  all  dispersed  when  he  went  in.  Mrs. 
Glyndon.and  Mrs.  Kinnard  were  talking  the  evening 
over,  after  the  manner  of  women.  Pie  said  a  quiet  good 
night,  and  then,  as  if  bethinking  himself,  left  one  for 
Miss  Endicott. 

They  were  all  tired,  and  glad  to  go  to  bed.  Once  in 
her  own  room,  Daisy  closed  the  door,  and  looked 
around  in  wild  affright,  as  if  she  was  always  to  be  haunted 
by  some  distrustful  phantom.  She  shrank  from  it  with 
pain  and  dread.  There  came  a  piteous  look  into  her 
eyes,  a  quivering  about  the  tender  mouth.  Even  now 
she  could  give  it  no  name  ;  but  she  felt  what  might  have 
been  the  blissful  perfection  that  could  have  rounded  her 
life,  but,  instead,  had  left  it  flawed,  roughened,  scathed 
as  if  by  lightning.  With  a  sad  prescience  that  had  in  it 
none  of  the  delightful  suggestions  of  hope,  she  looked 
into  the  dreary  future,  —  a  long  life,  perhaps,  shorn  of  its 
keenest  joy.  And  she  could  have  worshipped  so  wholly ! 

After  a  restless  night,  she  woke,  at  last,  with  a  severe 
headache.  Breakfast  was  late.  There  were  no  rigid 
rules  in  the  household  on  this  subject.  Dr.  Kinnard  had 
taken  Bertie  out  to  ride  before  she  came  down. 

"  You  do  look  really  fagged  out !  "  cried  Mrs.  Glyndon. 
"And  you  were  so  bright  and  fresh  yesterday!  I  am 
glad  of  that,  for  obviously  selfish  reasons.  Never  mind : 
after  the  feast,  crumbs,  of  course.  Let  me  give  }*ou  a  cup 
of  tea,  and  then  you.  had  better  go  back  to  bed.  There  is 
the  rowing  to  Golden  Rock  this  afternoon,  you  know." 


240  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

She  should  not  go,  she  had  resolved  upon  that;  but 
she  was  extremely  glad  of  a  reasonable  excuse  for  soli 
tude.  Dr.  Kinnard  teased  her  a  little  at  noon,  but 
desisted,  when  he  saw  that  it  really  pained  her. 

"  You  had  better  stay  at  home,  and  be  quiet,"  he  said 
kindly.  "  You  have  had  so  many  pleasures,  that  it  will 
be  no  great  trial  to  relinquish  this." 

"No,"  she  answered  with  a  tremulous  smile,  glad  to 
be  left  with  no  further  comment.  For  Arthur  Dudley 
was  to  be  of  the  rowing-party,  oarsman,  in  fact ;  and  she 
could  not  meet  him  just  yet. 

She  lay  on  the  sofa  the  whole  long  afternoon,  in  a 
mood  of  the  most  painful  and  bewildering  uncertaint}-, 
revolving  the  endless  tangle,  and  wondering  what  could 
be  the  conclusion,  dreading  it  with  great  pangs  of  appre 
hension. 

Just  at  dusk,  the  bell  rang.  She  had  been  in  a  half- 
doze,  and  did  not  catch  the  inquiry,  but  heard  the  last  of 
Susan's  answer,  —  "and  Miss  Endicott  is  in  bed,  I  be 
lieve,  with  a  bad  headache.  Shall  I  speak  to  her?  " 

"No;  don't  disturb  her.  I  will  drop  in  to-morrow. 
Partings  are  the  order  of  the  day  now  ;  and  I  shall  be  off 
in  a  day  or  two.  Give  them  all  my  compliments." 

A  great  pang  of  agony  and  pain  surged  over  Daisy 
Endicott.  She  buried  her  face  in  the  pillow,  —  her  shrink 
ing,  crimson  face,  into  which  the  sound  of  that  voice 
brought  the  blazing  light  of  her  secret.  How  had  she  come 
to  love  him  (for  it  was  that :  she  could  not  conceal  it  from 
herself),  and  there  had  never  been  any  hope,  from  the 
first?  Ah,  she  had  not  selfishly  thought  of  that.  It  had 
been  so  delightful! — the  low  tones,  the  changeful  and 
tender  lights  in  the  eyes  (false  lights  to  lure  the  unwary) , 
the  bits  and  fragments  of  sentences  meant  for  her  alone. 
And  last  evening  —  why,  it  seemed  as  if  he  had  almost 
said  —  ah,  almost,  he  had  never  meant  to  say  it  quite. 
And  she  had  not  thought  there  could  be  danger. 


KELLY  KDTNAED'S  KINGDOM.  541 

To-day  he  had  come  and  gone,  not  caring  to  see  her ; 
and  in  a  day  or  two  he  would  go  forever.  Oh  !  how  could 
she  endure  that  bitter  parting,  the  awful  sense  of  loss  ? 
If  she  could  see  him  occasionally,  if  there  could  still  be 
some  delightful  hours  of  friendship.  She  would  not  ask 
any  greater  love.  She  had  not  sufficient  charm  to  fill  the 
whole  life  of  such  a  man.  If  she  had  been  made  beautiful 
as  Nelly  ;  for  he  had  been  very  strongly  attracted  toward 
her,  that  she  had  seen. 

But  her  plain,  modest  life  had  in  it  no  bewildering 
grace,  either  to  gain  such  a  prize,  or  to  comfort  in  this 
hour  of  bitter  loss  and  self-abasement.  Some  women 
would  have  fought  fiercely  with  fate :  she  only  accepted 
despair.  The  desolation  must  come  upon  her,  must  be 
borne.  She  was  none  the  less  Daisy  Endicott.  She  had 
sisterly,  daughterly,  and  friendly  ties  and  duties  in  this 
world,  and  they  must  be  met  bravely.  She  could  not 
confess  to  any  one  how  she  had  been  met  and  vanquished 
in  the  very  outset  of  life ;  perhaps  weakly,  for  she  had 
been  warned. 

She  rose,  then,  bathed  her  face,  brushed  out  her  soft, 
shining  hair,  put  on  a  white  dress  and  bit  of  cherry  ribbon. 
Outwardly  she  was  to  be  the  same  to  every  one.  Then 
the  family  returned,  and  she  went  down,  glad  to  have 
something  to  do,  —  to  take  up  her  burthen  right  away. 

Arthur  Dudley  had  been  a  trifle  grave  all  the  afternoon, 
though  the  short  excursion  proved  a  decided  success. 
But  he  declined  their  friendly  solicitations  to  come  home 
and  take  a  cup  of  tea. 

"  I  am  absolutely  going  to  bed  with  the  chickens,"  he 
declared  gayly.  "  I  hope  j-ou  will  find  Miss  Endicott 
better.  To-morrow  I  shall  give  myself  the  pleasure  of 
your  hospitality,  Mrs.  Glyndon.  —  Bertie,  don't  }'ou  be 
lieve  you  could  take  me  out  driving  ?  ' ' 

"  Oh  !  couldn't  I,  papa?  "  exclaimed  the^ child  eagerly 
"  Mamma  lets  me  drive." 

21 


242  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

"  I  think  so." 

Bertie  came  home,  elated  with  his  project.  After  a 
quiet  meal,  there  was  a  little  talking  of  the  coming  dis 
persion.  . 

"  I  must  go  back  on  Tuescla}*,  at  the  latest,"  said  Dr. 
Kinnard.  "  Can  you  get  all  packed  up  on  Monday, 
Nelly?" 

"  Oh,  yes  !  "  was  the  ready  reply. 

"  Then  we  have  two  more  days  to  devote  to  pleasure, 
Sunday  to  rest  " — 

"  And  Monday  to  a  general  disturbance  of  the  spheres," 
interrupted  Mrs.  Glyndon  merrily.  "  Well,  we  have  had 
a  bright,  pleasant  summer.  Mrs.  Kinnard  has  gone  back 
to  the  enchantment  of  eighteen.  Bertie  has  entirely 
recovered;  don't  3-011  think  so,  doctor?  Daisj^  seems  to 
have  had  a  3'oung  girl's  good  time ;  and  I  have  been 
happy  as  a  queen.  We  have  lived  together  eleven  weeks 
without  quarrelling —  what  do  }*ou  say  to  that  for  women's 
tempers?  " 

"  Pretty  good ;  pretty  good  !  "  and  the  doctor  laughed. 

Two  more  days  of  pleasure  !  It  rang  in  Daisy's  ears 
like  the  saddest  knell. 

Mr.  Dudley  came  over  the  next  morning,  and  went  out 
with  Bertie.  Then  Mrs.  Glyndon  kept  him  to  dinner. 
Two  ladies  had  dropped  in  also.  Daisy's  avoidance  of 
him  was  not  marked  :  he  made  it  very  easy  for  her. 

Then,  late  in  the  afternoon,  Van  Alst3'ne  made  his 
appearance,  with  his  usual  jaunty,  elegant  ease.  JHe 
made  quite  sure  that  the  ladies  were  all  at  home ;  for  he- 
did  not  mean  to  risk  any  special  rencounter  with  Daisy. 
Such  partings  were  awkward  things. 

He  had  decided  to  go  to  Maine  for  a  month,  with  a 
hunting-part3*,  and  was  to  leave  to-morrow. 

"  I  wonder  if  3-011  will  be  in  New  York  in  the  winter, 
Mrs.  Gl3'ndon.  One  does  have  a  chance  to  see  you  occa 
sionally.  And  it  may  be  that  I  shall  stumble  over  you 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  243 

all,  somewhere,  again :  I  shall  hope  so,  at  all  events. 
We  have  had  such  a  delightful  summer !  " 

He  shook  hands  cordially  with  them  all.  Daisy's  white 
fingers  were  cold  and  inert.  He  did  not  care  to  look  into 
her  eyes  :  the  lids  were  downcast  and  tremulous.  But  he 
uttered  the  commonplaces  of  society  over  her  with  his 
serene  and  careless  air ;  and  they  were  separated  for  all 
time. 

"  I  am  afraid  the  little  Endicott  has  been  hit,"  he 
mused.  "  It  wouldn't  have  done  to  go  on  for  a  day 
longer.  However,  I  daresay  Dudley  will  make  it  all 
right  with  her  some  day.  By  Jove  !  she's  just  cut  out  for 
a  minister's  wife  ;  and  she  is  a  good  little  girl  too.  I'm 
glad  I  never  did  any  thing  more  than  kiss  her  hand. 
Van,  my  boy,  you  have  withstood  a  good  deal  of  tempta 
tion." 

Saturday  was  marked  by  other  partings.  Sunday  was 
lovely  and  tranquil,  —  a  perfect  da)'  of  rest,  a  golden  life 
and  glory  in  it,  as  if  summer's  richness  just  stood  still, 
and  ripened.  Mr.  Dudley  took  the  service  in  the  church  ; 
and  Daisy  listened  to  his  voice  with  a  peculiar  tender 
reverence,  as  if,  having  once  hurt  him  so  sorely,  she  must 
make  it  up  to  herself  with  another  kind  of  worship. 

Then  the  packing,  and  the  journey  home,  the  mother 
welcome  that  had  been  promised  Nelly, —  a  little  awk 
ward,  with  a  sense  of  being  unfamiliar,  but  pleasant  in 
not  saying  or  doing  too  much. 

"And  look  at  me,  grandmamma!  I  am  alt  well.  I 
can  run  and  jump  ;  and  I've  had  a  first-rate  time.  I've 
learned  to  drive  ;  and  I  am  going  to  take  you  out  some 
day.  Mamma  says  I  can  have  her  pony." 

All  this  with  his  arms  around  his  grandmother's  neck, 
where  they  had  rarely  been  before. 

"  Why,  Barton,  how  well  he  looks  !  And,  I  declare,  he 
has  grown  quite  pretty  ;  something  as  you  used  to  look." 
And  she  held  him  off  to  study  him. 


244  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

"Yes,"  said  the  doctor  humorously:  "my  handsome 
da}'s  were  in  childhood,  I  believe." 

They  would  fain  have  kept  Daisy ;  but  she  wanted  to 
get  home,  and  shut  out  all  reminders  of  the  summer.  So 
the  doctor  took  her  over,  and  brought  back  saucy  Queen 
Bess,  who  was  tall  and  straight,  and  full  of  rippling, 
girlish  beauty.  Bertie  was  puzzled  to  decide  which  he 
liked  the  better.  Bessie  was  so  bright  and  funnj^. 

"  If  only  there  were  no  Aunt  Adelaide  to  come  in  like 
a  dismal  gray  shadow !  "  thought  Mistress  Nelly  Kinnard. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

But  on  the  fire  burns,  clear  and  still ; 

The  cankering  sorrow  dies ; 
The  small  wounds  heal;  the  clouds  are  rent; 
And  through  this  shattered  mortal  tent 

Shine  down  the  eternal  skies. 

A  CHANGE  had  surely  come  over  Mother  Kinnard  ;  that 
Nelly  saw  presently. 

She  had  been  upheld  in  such  a  rigid  way  between  Jane 
and  Aunt  Adelaide  !  We  borrow  more  easily  some  influ 
ence  or  manner  of  our  neighbor  than  we  are  willing  to 
believe  ;  and  household  frettings  are  so  readily  taken  up  : 
coldnesses  and  unkindnesses  are  grafts  that  flourish 
rapidly  in  a  congenial  soil.  If  we  do  not  plant  grain, 
weeds  surely  will  grow :  we  see  that  all  over.  No  inch 
of  ground,  no  human  soul,  is  utterly  barren. 

She  seemed  to  have  grown  older  too.  There  were 
more  wrinkles  in  her  face,  a  little  softness  and  quivering 
in  her  voice,  a  sort  of  uncertain  air  now  and  then,  as  if 
she  was  trying  to  remember  what  came  next. 

She  admitted  to  having  been  lonesome  while  the  doctor 
was  away ;  but,  for  the  rest,  she  had  not  enjoyed  any 
thing  so  much  since  her  own  housekeeping  days.  Mary 
was  such  a  treasure!  "And  I  hope  you'll  find  every 
thing  as  you  like  it.  I  have  tried  to  keep  the  house  well 
aired  and  in  order." 

"  It  looks  very  bright  and  fresh,  I  am  sure,"  was 
Nelty's  reply. 

And  now  came  disastrous  tidings.     With  some  blush- 

21»  .    245 


246  NELLY  KINNAHD'S  KINGDOM. 

ing  hesitation,  Mary  announced  to  her  mistress  that  she 
should  be  compelled  to  leave,  as  she  was  about  to  be 
married. 

"I've  been  very  well  satisfied,  ma'am,  and  I  hate  to 
leave  you  and  the  doctor.  I  never  thought  I  should  get 
along  so  well  with  —  everybody.  But  you  see,  ma'am, 
this  is  an  old  affair  with  Henry.  When  we  were  both 
young,  —  I  was  the  older  by  two  years,  — he  took  a  great 
fancy  about  me.  I  couldn't  have  married  him  then,  any 
how.  Mr.  Berkman  was  just  beginning  to  come,  and  I 
liked  him  ;  and  Henry  seemed  so  very  young  at  twentjr. 
Well,  his  mother,  she  had  word  of  it ;  and  she  made  a 
terrible  time.  There  was  a  farm  that  she  had  her  rights 
in ;  and  she  was  a  very  unreasonable  woman,  high- 
tempered,  and  all  that :  so  she  declared  Henry  should 
never  bring  home  a  wife ;  and  he  couldn't  go  away, 
because  there  was  no  one  else  to  till  the  farm.  It  didn't 
make  any  difference  to  me,  you  see ;  and  yet  I  felt  very 
sorry  for  him.  bo  she  just  grew  queerer  and  crosser,  and, 
finally,  wouldn't  let  any  but  very  old  women  come  into 
the  house.  He  was  a  good  son  to  her,  better  than  many 
a  man,  I'm  thinking.  Well,  last  May  she  died.  Henry 
came  to  see  me  soon  after  you  had  gone  away.  It  was 
a  kind  of  first  love,  you  see  ;  what  with  his  mother  being 
so  cranky,  it  had  never  been  quite  taken  out  of  his  mind. 
He's  a  good,  clever,  steady  man ;  has  a  nice  farm;  and 
the  old  lady  was  a  master  hand  to  save,  and  make  bed 
ding.  The  house  is  full  of  furniture,  and  he's  fond  of 
little  Katy.  I'm  sure  I  hope  we'll  have  some  children 
of  our  own  :  it  would  be  such  a  joy  to  him.  So  I  think, 
ma'am,  it's  too  good  to  let  slip,  since  I  do  like  him  very 
much,  and  can  make  him  happ}*." 

Mary  looked  up  blushingly  at  the  end  of  her  con 
fession. 

u  I  caunot  blame  you,"  rejoined  Nelly,  "  though  I  am 
very  sorry  to  lose  }-ou ;  and  I  hope  you  will  be  happy. 


NELLY  KESTNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  247 

At  all  events,  Henry  will  get  a  good  wife.  When  will 
you  want  to  leave?  " 

"Just  as  soon  as  you  can  spare  me,  ma'am.  I  told 
him  I  wouldn't  be  later  than  the  first  of  October." 

Nelly  gave  a  sigh. 

"  If  it  wasn't  for  this,  I'd  stajr  always  with  3*ou,"  said 
the  faithful  creature.  "  And  if  the  farm  wasn't  so  far  — 
it's  about  a  mile  the  other  side  of  Kelly's  Falls." 

"And  you  will  have  your  hands  full,"  said  Mrs.  Kinnard 
with  a  smile,  that  she  had  some  ado  to  make  cheerful. 

"I  supposed  as  much,"  was  the  doctor's  comment, 
when  he  heard  it.  "  Henry  Kline  has  been  coming 
steadily  all  summer.  Well,  it's  tne  way  of  the  world. 
I  set  a  bad  example  myself:  so  I  cannot  complain." 
And  he  smiled  humorously. 

Aunt  Adelaide  would  be  home  the  last  of  the  month : 
she  trusted  all  danger  of  the  fever  would  be  over,  as  she 
could  not  think  of  exposing  Maud  to  it.  Bertie  recom 
menced  school,  though  his  father  exercised  a  careful 
supervision  over  him.  The  fall  cleaning  and  changes 
were  attended  to ;  the  flowers  put  in  train  for  winter 
blooming ;  and  Nelly  was  as  busy  as  a  bee.  Bess  was 
bright  and  helpful,  and  a  great  comfort. 

And  then  fell  upon  Nelly  the  first  real  sorrow  of  her 
life,  so  far.  Rose's  bab}',  that  almost  marvellous  embodi 
ment  of  infantile  grace,  beauty,  and  sweetness,  sickened 
and  died.  Its  short  week  of  illness  had  not  prepared  any 
one  for  the  loss :  it  did  not  seem,  indeed,  as  if  he  could 
die.  So  Nelly  went  to  her  for  a  few  days. 

A  month  before,  Mrs.  Whitcomb  had  gone  to  Europe 
with  a  dear  invalid  friend.  Rose  and  Stephen  had  given 
a  rather  sad  but  not  unwilling  assent.  Surely  Mrs.  Whit- 
comb  had  earned  this  pleasure. 

Daisy  was  to  remain,  and  help  her  bear  the  pain  and 
anguish.  The  first  death  in  their  little  circle,  the  loveli 
est  flower  of  all.  Dr.  Kinnard  was  profoundly  stirred. 


248  KELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  I  really  believe  I  have  coveted  that  baby,  Nelly,"  he 
said  in  a  tone  of  deep  emotion  that  thrilled  her  strangely. 

But  she  had  to  return  home.  Here  was  Aunt  Adelakb 
and  Maud,  —  the  first  severely  consequential ;  the  latter,  a 
good  deal  improved,  but  with  many  airs  of  fine  ladyism. 
Nelly's  heart  sank  within  her.  The  pleasantness  of  life 
seemed  suddenly  dimmed. 

Bertie's  sleeping-room  had  been  changed  to  one  at  the 
head  of  the  hall,  taking  him  quite  out  of  his  aunt's  care. 
She  treated  him  with  a  lofty  contempt,  and  took  every 
occasion  to  snub  him.  Mother  Kinnard's  half-defection 
angered  her  secretly.  She  was  compelled  to  admit  that 
she  could  no  longer  be  prime  mover  of  the  forces.  But 
there  were  many  ways  to  anno}T  "my  brother-in-law's 
second  wife,"  as  she  usually  termed  her;  and  none  more 
effective  than  an  almost  insulting  deference  when  visitors 
were  present,  indicating  that  she  was  in  the  house  merely 
on  sufferance,  because  related  to  the  children. 

And  then  began  another  great  perplex! tj^.  Mrs.  Berk- 
man  was  married,  and  went  to  her  new  home ;  but  her 
successor  found  it  "so  lonesome  of  evenings,"  and 
wanted  to  go  farther  in  town.  There  followed  a  list  of 
incapables.  The  once  tidy  kitchen  was  a  scene  of  dis 
order.  Meals  were  irregular  and  half  cooked,  unless  Nelly 
supervised  everything.  The  ironing  dragged  around  all 
the  week.  One  great  brawny  Irishwoman  found  the  work 
so  hard  she  couldn't  stand  it :  "  she  woodent  worruk  her 
.  fingers  to  the  bone  for  any  one,  that  she  woodent !  " 

Jane  Ferris  heard  of  it  with  peculiar  delight.  Mrs. 
Kinnard's  good  fortune  had  been  a  personal  affront  to 
her. 

"I  said  they'd  see!"  and  she  tossed  her  head  with 
emphasis.  "  But  I'd  never  go  back  for  a  soul  of  them, 
save  the  doctor.  I've  seen  ladies  enough  in  my  day  to 
tell  the  genuine  article  when  I  do  meet  with  it." 

However,  no  one  asked  Jane  to  come  back.     Mat  was 


NELLY  KIKNAED'S  KINGDOM.  249 

almost  as  good  as  a  girl  to  Ms  young  mistress,  and  very 
helpful.  She  gave  tip  her  rides,  her  books,  her  music,  her 
village  calling,  and  tried  her  best  to  fight  it  through.  If 
she  had  only  been  alone,  or  if  Mother  Kinnard  had  fought 
with  her!  But  that  lady  held  secret  sessions  with  the 
enemy,  that  were  detrimental  to  a  firm  faith  in  her 
daughter-in-law.  . 

How  hard  Nelly  Kinnard  worked  all  this  time  to  keep 
her  temper,  and  her  pleasant  household  ways,  no  one  but 
Him  who  seeth  in  secret  knew.  There  were  days  when 
heart  and  mind  and  hands  were  so  overtasked,  that  her 
husband's  voice  almost  failed  to  charm  ;  nights  when  she 
laid  her  throbbing  temples  on  the  pillow,  and  cried  softly, 
so  that  he  might  not  hear,  out  of  pure  weariness  and 
discouragement. 

It  came  to  an  end  just  after  the  holidays,  in  the  person 
of  a  rather  stolid  German,  who  had  been  well  trained,  and 
was  exceedingly  good  natured,  though  rather  slow.  But 
poor  Nelly  had  not  reached  any  promised  land  yet.  Mrs. 
Kinnard  was  taken  ill  with  fever  and  rheumatism ;  and, 
from  that  time  until  spring,  there  was  nursing  and  amus 
ing.  Yet  out  of  this  came  an  abundant  reward.  She 
conquered  here  a  lasting  peace.  Feeble,  querulous,  and 
oftentimes  tiresome  ;  yet  the  elder  woman  learned  to  love 
and  appreciate  her  son's  wife,  to  give  her  her  due  un 
grudgingly. 

Had  it  not  been  worth  striving  for?  Two  years,  and 
two  souls  brought  into  her  kingdom.  Youth  and  age 
bowing  down  in  simple  homage,  watching  her  with  longing, 
wistful  eyes,  bringing  her  some  first-fruit  of  love,  tiying  to 
make  smooth  ways  for  the  often  tired  feet. 

Bertie  paid  his  mother  a  chivalrous  homage  in  spite  of 
Aunt  Adelaide's  sneers,  and  would  have  thrashed  imy  boy 
of  his  size  who  dared  to  breathe  a  suspicion  against  step 
mothers.  Mr.  Herrick  considered  him  a  promising  pupil ; 
and  he  had  become  quite  a  companion  to  his  father. 


250  NELLY  KINNAED'S   KINGDOM. 

Slow  of  thought  in  some  matters,  yet  he  had  a  quaint, 
droll  quickness  in  others.  He  grew  fonder  of  his  grand 
mother,  too,  and  was  delighted  when  he  was  allowed  to 
take  her  out  to  drive. 

She  had  broken  very  much,  and  was  quite  an  old  \acly. 
The  rather  massive  chignon  was  discarded  ;  and  Nelly  used 
to  make  a  pretty  coil  of  braids  (for  her  hair  was  still 
abundant) ,  and  some  becoming  finger-puffs  brought  down 
on  the  somewhat  too  high  forehead.  A  dainty  little 
square  of  lace  with  a  bit  of  purple  ribbon,  and  a  soft 
ruche  around  her  neck,  quite  transformed  her.  She  would 
always  be  tall,  and  rather  severe  looking ;  but  the  dark 
eyes  had  softened  a  little,  and  the  voice  taken  on  a  gentler 
chord  in  weakness. 

"  I'm  sure  no  daughter  ever  could  be  better,"  she 
would  occasionally  say  to  Nelly.  ' '  I  never  thought  to  be 
beholden  to  any  one  ;  but  you  have  such  a  sweet  way  of 
doing  favors,  as  if  it  was  no  trouble.  But  I  know  well 
enough  a  sick  old  woman  is  a  burthen." 

"Don't  say  'beholden,'"  and  then  Nelly  gives  her 
most  beguiling  smile.  "It  is  such  a  hard,  ungracious 
sort  of  a  word.  Am  I  not  your  daughter  really,  —  Barton's 
wife?" 

"  Yes,  my  dear ;  and  I've  come  to  see  the  da}-  that  I'm 
thankful.  I  don't  believe  he  was  ever  very  happy  with 
Mary,  though  I  picked  her  out,  and  thought  she  would 
make  a  good  wife.  She  was  alwa3's  sweet  enough  to  me  ; 
but  she  had  a  terrible  temper,  and  no  prett}*  little  ways 
toward  him,  as  }~ou  have.  And  then  I  never  can  forgive 
myself,  though  it  didn't  <lo  any  harm  ;  but  I  wanted  him 
to  marry  Adelaide,  if  he  married  at  all.  One  does  dread 
stepmothers  for  young  children  ;  and  I  did  not  know  any 
thing  about  you,  except  that  you  were  a  veiy  3'oung  girl. 
But  I  am  sure  no  one  could  have  been  tenderer  toward 
Bertie  ;  and,  if  he  wasn't  so  large,  you  would  make  people 
believe  he  was  your  own  child.  It  was  all  for  the  best, 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  251 

dear ;  and  I  am  sorry  for  the  many  times  I  must  have 
pained  you .  You  are  quite  sure  you  do  not  remember  it 
against  me?  " 

"Mother  dear!"  and  kisses  stop  the  garrulous,  wrin 
kled  lips. 

"  If  you  had  not  a  sweet,  forgiving  nature,  my  dear,  it 
would  come  up  every  now  and  then.  But  I  shall  try  to 
make  you  happy  in  my  poor  way.  You  see  I  have  only 
been  used  to  doing,  not  loving  ;  and  to  me  it  is  like  learn 
ing  new  lessons.  And  I'm  like  Bertie.  I  sometimes 
forget  when  I  don't  really  mean  to ;  but  }-our  sweetness 
sets  it  all  straight.  There's  Barton's  carriage  ;  and  you. 
must  run  down  to  him.  I  can't  have  my  son  defrauded 
of  an}T  happiness,  Mrs.  Kinnard  ;  "  and  there  is  a  twinkle 
in  her  eye  that  stops  short  of  pure  pleasantrj-,  because 
it  meets  with  a  tear.  • 

Such  bits  of  confidence  have  become  quite  frequent. 
And,  when  Mrs.  Kinnard  is  well  enough  to  get  down 
stairs,  she  finds  a  delightful  easy-chair  in  her  corner,  and 
her  own  workstancl,  as  if  she  might  have  left  it  3-esterda}-. 
Then,  across  the  opposite  corner,  a  luxurious  lounge,  and 
on  it  a  pretty  Afghan  that  Nelly  has  found  time  to 
crotchet,  to  throw  over  one's  shoulders,  if  the  room  is 
chilly. 

"  It  was  such  a  bright  thought  of  yours,  Nelly,  having 
this  place  altered,"  says  the  mother.  "The  sun  and 
the  flowers  make  it  so  cheerful !  And  I  used  to  think 
flowers  unhealthy,  —  the  absurd  idea !  Why,  the  very 
sight  of  them  is  cheering,  and  makes  a  perpetual  summer. 
My  dear,  it's  because  you  have  so  much  summer  in  your 
heart,  I  think,  that  your  ideas  are  all  so  bright." 

"  Halloo  !  "  cries  the  doctor  with  a  genial  laugh,  as  he 
comes  in,  and  finds  Bertie  reading  Kingsley's  grand  old 
fairy-tales  aloud.  "Why,  this  is  quite  a  grandmother's 
corner,  isn't  it?  I  do  believe  mamma  likes  it  better  than 
she  does  my  '  den.'  I  am  quite  jealous." 


252  NELLY  KLNNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

"The  old  lady  has  failed  very  much,"  says  Miss  Grove 
as  she  goes  around  making  calls,  stiffer  and  colder  than 
ever.  "She  has  grown  absolutely  childish ;  and  Bertie 
will  be  good  for  nothing  at  all,  she  indulges  him  so.  That 
child  doesn't  know  as  much  as  he  did  when  his  father  first 
put  him  in  school.  He  spends  his  time  reading  all  kinds 
of  nonsense.  I  always  shall  believe  that  novels  and  such 
things  are  very  detrimental  to  any  child.  But,  if  they 
ruin  him  now,  it  cannot  be  helped  :  he  is  quite  out  of  my 
hands.  It  is  enough  to  make  my  poor  sister  turn  in  her 
grave." 

Mrs.  Woodbury  comes  to  spend  the  day  with  the  child 
ish  old  lady,  and  finds  her  very  companionable  indeed ; 
quite  agrees  with  her  as  to  the  virtues  of  "  my  son's  wife." 

Rachel  keeps  the  kitchen  tidy,  and  sings  at  her  work. 
Household  matters  go  on  smoothly  ;  and  Nelly  is  out  once 
more,  riding  beside  her  husband,  and  receiving  friendly 
greetings.  And  then  she  thinks  how  little  she  has  seen 
of  Mr.  Dudley  this  winter.  She  has  had  the  sewing- 
society,  and  one  or  two  business-meetings  of  church- 
women  to  consider  waj-s  and  means ;  for  the  chapel  is 
getting  over-crowded :  but  the  good  companionship  of  a 
year  ago  has  vanished.  She  speaks  of  it  now. 

"Oh !  that  reminds  me  to  mention — well,  I'll  drive  you 
around  to  see  it,"  begins  the  doctor,  rather  disconnectedly. 
But  N.elly  knows  his  sentences  always  join  somewhere. 
"You  know  the  Warners, — the  new  people  who  bought 
out  the  Chatham  Mills  ?  Mr.  James  Warner  has  gone  in 
heart  and  hand  with  Dudley,  and  has  offered  him  ground 
enough  for  a  church  and  rectory,  if  he  will  build  both." 

"  Why,  that  is  magnificent !  " 

"Yes  ;  down  Arlington  Avenue — the  new  end.  It  is  a 
beautiful  location.  Dudley  told  me  yesterday ;  but  it 
went  out  of  my  mind.  There  has  been  something  just  a 
little  queer  about  him.  "  Nelly,  did  you  ever  think  "  — 
And  the  doctor  falls  into  a  very  brown  study. 


NELLY  KLNNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  253 

"Think  what?"  and  her  soft  voice  rouses  him. 

"  That  Daisy — well,  I  cannot  make  it  quite  clear  in  my 
mind.  He  was  in  love  with  Daisy  last  summer,  if  ever 
man  was  in  love  at  all.  Whether  he  asked  her,  or  whether 
she  made  it  clear  without  asking,  as  some  women  can, 
anyhow,  I  know  he  was  quite  down-hearted  in  the  winter. 
And  the  other  day  I  joked  him  about  the  rectory.  His 
face  flushed  a  moment ;  then  there  came  in  it  such  a  look 
of  intense  pain,  that  I  could  have  bit  my  tongue  for 
punishment.  I  had  really  set  my  heart  on  it.  But  Daisy 
went  off  to  stay  with  Rose,  }*ou  know ;  and  something 
surely  has  happened  between  them." 

Nelly  looks  grave.  Daisy  has  shown  very  little  dis 
position  to  come  to  Edgerly  this  spring.  She  has  a  new 
seriousness  in  her  face,  that  appeared  first  during  Rose's 
sore  trouble :  perhaps  some  experience  of  her  own  is 
blended  with  it. 

"  So  the  church  is  to  be  built?  "  sa}-s  Nelly,  trying  to 
shake  olT  a  sense  of  pain  that  makes  a  discordance  in  the 
heavenly  spring-air. 

' '  There  is  to  be  a  vestry-meeting  next  week,  when  the 
matter  will  come  up.  Oh!  of  course,  it  is  as  good  as 
settled  ;  and  Dudley  is  just  the  man  to  carry  it  through. 
There,  here  is  the  spot !  When  West  Street  is  cut  through, 
it  will  be  on  the  corner.  The  rectory  will  stand  here  at 
the  south  side.  In  time,  the  property  will  be  very  valu 
able  ;  and  it  is  a  nice  neighborhood  already." 

' '  I  am  so  glad  and  grateful ! ' ' 

"  If  3'ou  would  like  to  subscribe  a  hundred  dollars, 
Nell}-,  —  I  thought  we  might  each  be  put  down  for  that, 
—  and,  if  they  get  hard  up  next  year,  we  might  help  them 
out  a  little  then."  . 

"O  Barton,  how  good  j-ou  are!"  and  the  tears  are 
shining  in  her  eyes  ;  for  her  heart  is  very  tender,  thinking 
of  Rose  and  Daisy. 

"I  want  to  be  good  to  3*ou,  little  woman,"  he   says 

22 


254  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

almost  gruffly ;  and  then  makes  a  pretence  of  clearing  his 
throat. 

A  long  while  after,  he  breaks  the  silence  with,  "I 
can't  get  over  it,  Nelly.  I  have  been  so  happy  (thanks 
to  your  sweetness  and  patience),  that  I  want  Dudley  to 
have  a  draught  out  of  the  same  cup.  Daisy  and  he  would 
suit  each  other  admirably.  If  they  could  only  see  and 
understand." 

"It  may  not  be  quite  as  you  think,"  she  says  tremu 
lously.  But,  oh !  in  her  heart  she  is  afraid  of  something 
sadder  still  behind  it  all,  —  something  that  comes  just 
like  a  flash,  and  opens  her  long  blind  eyes. 

•They  ride  home  in  the  soft  spring  twilight,  winding  in 
and  out  by  the  same  river  as  when  he  brought  her  home  a 
bride.  The  trees  are  in  their  first  }Toung  greenish  brown 
leaves  and  buds,  the  spruce  and  firs  odorous,  the  meadows 
looking  fit  for  fairy-rings.  A  blessedness  springs  up  in 
the  high  places  of  their  being  :  the  flow  of  the  river  brings 
a  great  peace,  a  tenderness,  a  unison  of  heart  and  soul. 
To  him  it  was  a  t3~pe  of  their  close  and  peaceful  affection : 
to  her  came  a  deeper  thought,  —  a  remembrance  of  the 
river  that  made  glad  the  City  of  God.  Would  they  both 
wander  there  ? 


CHAPTER  XVH. 

"  Oh  the  little  more ;  and  how  much  it  is ! 
And  the  little  less,  and  what  worlds  away ! " 

CIRCUMSTANCES  had  befriended  both  Daisy  and  Mr. 
Dudley  in  the  concealment  of -their  unfortunate  episode. 
That  Daisy  should  be  a  little  tired  and  grave  was  not 
wondered  at  when  she  reached  home.  Mrs.  Endicott 
never  worried  at  her  girls  for  any  confidence  or  confes 
sion,  If  there  was  any  thing  to  tell,  it  came  sooner  or 
later. 

After  a  day  or  two,  she  exerted  herself  to  talk  about  the 
many  delightful  events  of  the  summer,  —  Mrs.  Gtyndon's 
perfect  friendliness,  Miss  Howe's  quaint  originalit}*,  Miss 
Graham's  beautiful  voice,  the  rides,  walks,  sails,  and  the 
pleasure-parties,  that  were  so  entertaining  to  Bess  and 
Gertrude.  When  she  once  began,  she  found  it  a  relief  to 
herself. 

After  the  sad  tidings,  and  her  visit  with  Rose,  no  one 
questioned  her  right  to  a  gentle  sadness.  - 

But  she  had  not  given  up  weakly  to  despondency. 
She  realized  that  she  had  made  a  great  and  painful  mis 
take.  Her  natural  candor  would  not  allow  her  to  deceive 
herself.  She  had  had  a  glimpse  of  a  bewildering  "  might 
have  been  ; ' '  and  yet  it  was  not  for  her.  She  had  loved 
this  handsome,  fascinating  man  unwittingly.  Perhaps  she 
would  not  have  been  so  hard  upon  her  own  weakness,  if 
she  had  known  how  he  had  tried  to  stir  her  girlish  soul, 
what  careful  siege  he  had  laid  to  her  sincere  innocence. 

255 


256  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

In  the  depths  of  her  heart  there  was  a  hungry,  unap- 
peasecl  desire  to  hear  his  rich  and  tender  voice,  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  his  ardent  eyes,  and  feel  all  her  pulses  thrill 
and  bound.  There  was  such  a  wide,  delicious  possibility 
of  love  shown  and  withdrawn,  like  the  blinding  light  we 
see  when  the  heavens  open. 

It  was  like  a  death  to  her.  If  she  had  been  compelled 
to  meet  him  frequently,  she  must  have  schooled  herself  to 
a  certain  tranquillit}',  and  uprooted  all  remembrance ; 
rather  it  would  have  withered  away  for  want  of  suste 
nance.  As  it  was,  she  made  daily  pilgrimages  to  a  grave. 
She  would  not  allow  herself  to  weep  over  the  grassy 
mound,  nor  plant  the  daisies  of  pathetic  tenderness  ;  but 
still  it  was  a  grave,  and  in  it  lay  something  that  had 
gone  out  of  the  world  for  her.  God  would  give  many 
other  things  in  his  own  good  time  ;  and  she  could  wait. 

As  for  Arthur  Dudle}',  he  did  not  relinquish  hope  at 
once.  It  seemed  to  him  that  Daisv  Endicott  must  belong 

•j  O 

to  him  some  daj-,  because  she  fitted  so  cntirelj-  into  his 
life.  He  came  home,  and  went  to  work  with  undismayed 
courage ;  but,  as  the  months  passed,  he  began  to  think 
there  was  a  positive  avoidance  on  her  part,  and  a  great 
fear  thrilled  his  soul  with  a  shivering  pain.  Once  he  had 
exchanged  with  Mr.  Endicott  while  she  was  away. 

The  certainty  seemed  to  gather  itself  into  a  vital  pang 
without  any  further  asking.  The  thing  he  so  desired 
could  not  be.  Instead  of  living  in  the  very  midst  of 
breathless  stillness  and  hope,  he  was  in  the  outer  ring  of 
chaos.  And  he  said  then  that  he  could  not  endure  stay 
ing  right  along  with  so  many  remembrances  of  her,  and 
not  her  own  sweet,  guileless  self;  that  he  must  go  away, 
and  begin  a  new  life. 

Go  away  like  a  fretful  child,  because  God  had  set  one 
thing  out  of  his  reach  ?  Refuse  the  daily  blessings,  and 
turn  them  from  the  bread  of  life  into  stone?  No  :  he,  of 
all  other  men,  had  no  right  to  do  this.  He  was  to  gather 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  257 

up  the  grains  from  that  exhaustless  storehouse,  God's 
divinely  appointed  waj's,  and  inherit  with  that  spirit 
apprehension  other  joys  in  the  place  of  this  one. 

So  a  new  courage  and  manliness  took  possession  of  him. 
When  the  boats  and  bridges  are  burned  at  the  river's  edge, 
the  soldiers  fight  on :  there  is  no  retreat.  Wiry  should 
he  be  ashamed  of  loving  a  sweet,  pure  woman,  even  if 
she  never  came  to  gladden  his  life  ? 

He  threw  himself  heart  and  soul  into  his  work,  infused 
a  new  vigor  and  earnestness  into  every  sermon,  every 
prayer,  even  the  reading  of  a  Irymn.  People  who  had 
rather  despised  the  small  wayside  chapel  began  to  flock 
in  ;  and  its  straitness  overflowed.  Then  came  Mr.  Warner 
with  his  generous  offer. 

He  had  seen  much  less  of  the  Kinnards  than  usual. 
Mrs.  Kinnard  had  been  so  kept  at  home  ;  and  there  was  no 
reason  wiry  he  should  run  out  there  every  few  daj-s.  But 
Dr.  Kinnard' s  cordial  and  unspoken  sympathy  was  very 
sweet.  A  kind  of  brotherly  nearness  was  growing  up 
between  the  two  men  who  were  never  to  know  the  divinely 
appointed  kinship  of  blood.  Their  temperaments  were 
widely  different.  This  broad-shouldered,  deep-breathing 
man,  with  his  intense  vitality,  his  hobby  of  clean,  strong 
bodies  for  pure  and  active  souls,  his  free  speaking,  had  a 
common-sense  way  of  taking  up  the  great  problems  of 
human  life,  that  sometimes  bordered  almost  upon  irrever 
ence.  His  half  doubt  of  religion  as  it  was  commonly  prac 
tised,  and  his  keen  looking  for  fruit  at  the  end  of  the  season, 
were  things  with  which  he  never  disturbed  Nelly.  He  used 
to  admit  to  her  that  he  had  great  faith  in  the  Endicott 
religion,  and  smile  to  see  her  blush  so  distressfully. 

To  Arthur  Dudley,  God  was  a  living,  ever-present 
reality.  He  had  that  calm  serenity,  the  outgrowth  of  a 
generous  faith,  rather  than  severe  spiritual  exaltation, 
though  he  often  found  solace  in  those  high  regions  of 
thought  and  devotion.  To  him,  the  ever-present  spirit 

22* 


258  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

of  love  was  nearest ;  a  childlike  directness  to  accept  the 
promises,  to  take  what  was  offered,  without  question  or 
cavilling.  He  took  the  beautiful  signs  with  thankfulness, 
and  read  the  underlying  meanings  in  the  heart  of  the 
great  Father.  He  was  to  sow  with  faith,  nothing  waver 
ing  :  he  was  not  to  go  outside  the  living  pastures  for 
strange  gods  or  strange  blossoms.  But  he  did  not  make 
the  bounds  any  narrower  than  they  were  set  in  the  first 
instance. 

So  Dr.  Kinnard  was  drawn  into  the  church-building 
project  "  for  Nelly's  sake,"  he  said.  Mr.  Dudley  found 
his  strong,  practical  ideas  of  much  importance.  lie  even 
asked  two  or  three  of  his  richer  patients,  who  Avere  quite 
inaccessible  to  Mr.  Dudle}",  to  subscribe  toward  the 
building. 

"  It  will  really  be  an  ornament  to  this  end  of  the  town  ; 
and,  the  prettier  it  is,  the  more  attractive  it  will  be,"  he 
would  say  with  his  shrewd,  humorous  smile. 

And  then  came  summer,  with  its  plans.  Mrs.  Ogden 
had  one,  and,  with  the  new  baby  and  the  nurse,  came  to 
spend  two  or  three  days,  and  talk  it  over  with  Nelly. 
The  new  baby  was  a  wee,  sweet  little  girl. 

Miss  Lucy  Churchill  had  gone  quietly  to  her  appointed 
rest ;  but  it  had  made  a  great  difference  to  those  left 
behind.  Not  even  little  Rose  could  fill  up  the  gap. 

"  I  think  it  is  best  for  us  to  go-  awa}',  and  have  some 
thing  quite  different,"  said  Fan,  —  "something  that  will 
take  us  out  of  our  old  groove.  Aunt  Churchill  spoke  of 
Martha's  Vineyard ;  but  that  would  bring  back  Lucy 
eveiywhere.  You  were  at  the  seaside  last  summer  ;  and 
you  will  want  mountains  this  year.  Mother,  father,  and 
Bessie  and  Edith,  will  join  us.  Louis  Duncan,  who  is 
just  in  orders,  you  know,  is  coming  to  take  papa's  place 
for  a  good  long  vacation.  Isn't  it  odd?  —  Louis  is  as 
much  of  a  son  to  him  as  Stephen.  Then  Rose  will  come 
and  stay  with  Daisy  —  poor  Rose.  I  feel  occasionally  as 


NELLY  HOWARD'S  KINGDOM.  259 

if  I  was  taking  what  ought  to  go  to  the  rest ;  for  it  does 
seem  as  if  I  had  every  thing,  —  quite  enough  to  spoil  me. 
So  Winthrop  decides  for  us.  We  are  to  stay  right  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  AVhite  Mountains,  have  a  great  roomy 
old-fashioned  cottage  and  farm  to  ourselves,  take  our 
own  servants,  and  keep  house.  Winthrop  cannot  spend 
all  the  time  with  us ;  but  there  will  be  papa  and  Uncle 
Churchill.  And  now,  Nelly,  if  you  will  cast  in  your  lot,  it 
will  be  just  perfect." 

When  Mother  Kinnard  added  her  fancy,  it  turned  the 
scale. 

"  Why,  3*es,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I  think  you  had  better 
join, — you  and  Bertie  and  mother;  and  I  might  get  .off 
a  week  or  two  when  Ogdcn  comes  up.  The  plan  is 
really  splendid,  Mrs.  Ogden.  And  Nelly  has  had  so 
maivj-  household  worries  this  year,  that  she  needs  a  rest. 
She  has  nothing  to  ke.ep  her  at  home,  either." 

"Ought  we  not  ask  Aunt  Adelaide  and  Maud?"  said 
Nelly,  when  she  was  alone  with  her  husband. 

"  It  would  be  a  daring  piece  of  Irypocris}*,  little  woman  • 
for  you  know  you  do  not  want  them.  They  would  spoil 
your  pleasure." 

"  Is  it  Irypocritlcal  to  use  every  act  of  conciliation  ? ' ' 
she  returned  with  wistful  eyes. 

"  I  pray  devoutly  that  they  will  not  care  to  go." 

And  they  did  not.  Maud  "  had  seen  the  White  Moun 
tains,  and  thought  a  whole  summer  there  would  be 
stupid." 

"  And  we  have  enough  of  them  the  rest  of  the  year," 
was  Aunt  Adelaide's  scornful  comment.  "Your  father 
is  so  taken  with  the  Endicott  tribe,  that  he  forgets  he  ever 
had  an}-  other  relatives.  I  did  not  think  your  poor  mother 
would  fade  out  of  his  mind  so  soon;  but  s/ie,"  with  a 
bitter  emphasis,  "  has  worked  for  that  end  since  the  first 
da}-  she  entered  the  house.  I  hope  she  is  satisfied.  But 
there  is  not  a  bit  of  style  to  any  of  them." 


260  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

Fan's  visit  was  an  unalloyed  delight.  She  was  so 
bright  and  gladsome,  so  full  of  winning  and  gracious 
ways,  infusing  blessedness  in  every  little  stream  that 
flowed  out;  and  there  were  many.  And  why  not?  God 
had  given  her  all  things  richly  to  enjoy  ;  and  her  father 
had  taught  her,  among  her  first  lessons,  that  she  was  to 
give  as  she  had  received.  There  was  an  exquisite  girlish 
sweetness  about  her  motherhood,  something  rare  and  fine, 
a  little,  perhaps,  of  the  charm  of  her  own  mother. 

But  the  baby  was  hardly  out  of  Nelly's  arms.  Dr. 
Kinnard  watched  her  with  a  strange,  new  emotion,  as 
she  hovered  about  it  with  sweet,  caressing  touches,  or 
pressed  the  tiny  pink-and-white  face  close  to  her  own 
brilliant  cheek,  or  smiled  into  e3Tes  that  were  but  half 
awake  with  a  sense  of  living ;  the  white  robe  clinging 
around  her  like  a  cloud,  the  soft  coo  and  gurgle  to  which 
she  gave  an  answering  laugh,  as  soft  in  return. 

If —  and  two  }rears  of  wedded  life  had  gone  by  ! 

Well,  he  had  her  ;  and  that  was  no  little.  She  should 
never  know  but  what  his  content  was  supreme,  perfect. 

There  was  another  bustle,  and  pleasant  huriyings  to 
and  fro,  eager  anticipations  on  Bertie's  part,  and  a  sort 
of  tremulous  fear  on  grandmother's.  Miss  Grove  went 
about  loftily.  Maud  aired  her  small  pretensions  when 
her  father  was  not  there :  he  was  very  apt  to  take  the 
breeze  of  vanity  out  of  them  with  a  touch  of  humorous 
sarcasm,  which  she  alwa}rs  imagined  she  owed  to  her 
"  stepmother's  influence." 

The  journey  was  rather  tiresome,  to  be  sure  ;  but  the 
resting-place  made  amends  for  all,  —  situated  in  a  valley 
(though  that  was  high),  with  "the  everlasting  hills" 
'above,  around,  at  their  very  feet,  even,  speaking  in 
tongues  of  grandeur,  of  peace,  like  a  heavenly  benedic 
tion.  Somehow,  Nell}'  liked  it  better  than  the  restless, 
shifting  sea,  with  its  blaze  of  molten  gloiy,  and  dia 
monded  waves.  And  then  she  suddenly  felt  how  much 
she  needed  rest. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  261 

A  household  that  might  have  been  incongruous  but  for 
the  kindly  love  permeating  it,  —  Mr.  Churchill,  still  of  the 
old  school,  with  little  courteous  formalisms,  that  were 
akin  to  his  low-tied  shoes  and  his  frilled  bosom,  an  air  of 
society  before  it  had  fallen  into  the  free  and  easy  ways 
of  to-day ;  Mr.  Endicott,  with  his  gentle,  half  absent- 
minded  demeanor,  and  quaint,  rippling  bits  of  speech, 
the  same  homelikeness  out  here  on  a  grand  rock  as  by 
the  study  fireside  at  home ;  and  three  grandmothers,  two 
who  were,  and  one  who  "  might  have  been,"  going  down 
to  a  serene,  beautiful  old  age,  more  of  a  mother  to  her 
sister's  son  than  his  own,  and,  to  these  three  babies,  a 
relative  quite  indescribable ;  (she  almost  rivalled  Mrs. 
Endicott ;  for  was  not  Fan  really  and  truly  hers,  from 
morning  till  night,  lent  out,  now  and  then,  for  visits,  as 
she  had  once  borrowed  her  in  the  old  da}-s  ?)  and  then  a 
"  big  boy,"  such  a  thing  as  the  Endicotts  had  never  pos 
sessed  before,  past  twelve,  and  at  a  very  trj'ing  age.  It 
often  took  all  Nelly's  motherliness  to  restrain  and  guide, 
to  keep  him  from  teasing  the  little  Ogdens,  or  leading 
them  into  danger,  to  make  him  courteous  to  his  elders,  to 
temper  his  frequent  effusiveness.  How  much  he  did  for 
love  of  her ! 

' '  Remember  that  you  are  to  take  good  care  of  mam 
ma,"  had  been  his  father's  parting  injunction. 

At  first  Grandmother  Kinnard  was  a  little  stiff,  and 
bristled  up  with  some  of  her  long-ago  society-polish, 
whose  tone  and  color  had  been  set  again  by  Aunt  Ade 
laide  ;  but  it  wore  away  gradually,  and  she  began  to  take 
a  more  thorough  enjoyment  than  she  had  ever  known  in 
her  life  before. 

They  were  out  among  the  farms.  But  a  few  miles 
distant  were  halting-places  for  larger  parties,  scattering 
hotels,  boarding-houses,  and  wafts  of  patchoul}*  and 
jockc3'-club  to  be  stirred  in  with  the  scent  of  clover- 
blooms,  freshly-cut  grass,  and  the  breezy  odor  of  grow- 


262  NELLY  KINNAIID'S  KINGDOM. 

ing  trees.  And  there  were  excursions  for  one,  two,  or 
three  daj-s,  planned  alwaj-s  by  Fan  in  the  most  felicitous 
manner.  She  never  had  to  stop  to  turn  her  money  over, 
to  see  how  far  it  would  go.  Up  on  the  grand  peaks,  where 
one  seems  to  get  nearer  the  Infinite,  to  take  great  breaths 
of  the  feast  prepared  centuries  beforehand,  to  read  the 
writing  that  God's  finger  had  traced  in  these  signs  of 
grandeur,  a  glory  that  quivered  and  duplicated  itself  in 
air  and  sky,  that  pulsed  and  trembled,  reaching  up  and 
up,  changing,  undulating,  widening,  diminishing,  brought 
close  and  revealed  with  an  answering  blessedness  that 
entered  the  deep  places  of  the  soul. 

They  were  scrambling  over  the  moss  and  lichened 
rocks  one  day,  half  listening  to  some  gay  voices  at  a  little 
distance,  half  looking  to  their  own  ways, — three  girls  and 
their  father,  —  when  a  sudden  turn  brought  them  together. 

"  O  Mrs.  Kinnard  !  "  cried  some  one. 

"  What  an  unlooked-for  pleasure!"  This  voice  was 
deep,  rich,  and  familiar. 

It  was  Elsie  Graham  and  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,  with  a 
background  of  other  people.  For  a  moment  Mrs.  Kin 
nard  was  silent  with  astonishment. 

"  That  we  should  stumble  over  one  another  here  !  Is 
Mrs.  Glyndon  with  you?  That  would  make  it  about  even  ; 
for  we  have  some  half-dozen  Severn-point  people  at  the 
hotel.  Allow  me  to  introduce  m}-  friends,  Mrs.  Sherrard, 
Mrs.  Payne,  Mr.  Payne,  Mr.  St.  John,  Mr.  Mallory." 

Mrs.  Kinnard  recovered  from  her  surprise,  and  intro 
duced  her  party,  in  turn. 

There  was  a  general  asking  of  questions.  Where  were 
the}T  sta}'ing?  What  were  they  doing?  And  for  all 
summer? 

Mrs.  Sherrard  was  a  magnificent  woman  certainty. 
Mrs.  Pa3'ne  looked  very  plain  beside  her.  But  there  was 
something,  —  too  much  of  the  flashing  of  silks  and  dia 
monds,  too  much  of  her  in  every  waj-,  from  the  bold, 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  263 

black  ej'e  down  to  the  shapely  foot  that  made  itself  con 
spicuous. 

They  were  all  going  up  to  the  mountain- top.  Both 
parties  had  brought  lunch-baskets. 

"  So  there  is  no  law  against  our  making  a  social  time 
of  it,"  said  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,  beginning  to  conciliate 
Mr.  Endicott  at  once.  The  rest  paired  off ;  but  Nelly 
kept  Bess  close  beside  her.  Miss  Graham  joined  them  ; 
and  presently  they  fell  a  little  behind.  Mrs.  Sherrard 
was  laughing  and  sparkling  with  repartee. 

"Isn't  she  just  horrid!"  exclaimed  Miss  Graham 
angrily.  "  And  yet,  you  can't  think,  she  has  them  all  in 
her  train,  —  everybody  worth  noticing.  I  don't  see  how 
the  men  like  her  so  !  You  can  see  she  is  making  a  dead 
set  at  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  ;  and  I  never  saw  him  so — so"  — 

There  was  a  bright  red  flush  on  the  young  girl's  cheek, 
and  a  half-smothered  fire  in  her  eye. 

"  Captivated? "  appended  Mrs.  Kinnard  at  a  venture. 

"Well,"  in  a  reluctant  tone,  —  "  though  I  don't  really 
believe  it.  But  at  the  hotel  they  predict  it  will  make  a 
match.  She  met  him  in  the  spring.  She  had  just  come 
from  Europe,  and  had  trunks  full  of  elegant  clothes  ;  and 
ever  since  then  she  has  followed  him  up." 

A  troubled  light  crossed  Nelly's  face.  It  pained  her 
to  hear  this  3'oung  girl  discussing  these  matters  in  such  a 
tone.  She  looked  at  Bessie  in  all  her  fair  ness  and  inno 
cence,  and  wished  that  fate  had  not  led  them  in  this 
direction  to-day.  To  change  the  conversation,  she  asked 
who  of  the  past  summer's  friends  were  at  the  hotel. 

"  The  Daventrys,  and  that  Miss  Ashton  and  hermother. 
She  is  going  on  the  stage  in  the  fall,  with  an  opera  troupe. 
Isn't  it  queer  how  we  met?  Mamma  was  so  undecided 
about  coming  to  the  White  Mountains ;  and  I  almost 
wish"  — 

There  was  a  fretted  look  on  the  face  that  marred  its 
youthful  sweetness.  It  seemed  such  a  pity.  Had  she, 


264  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

too,  poor  moth,  been  caught  in  the  net  that  looked  so 
•  smooth  and  shining  when  Van  Alstyne  shook  it  out  before 
women's  faces? 

"  But  it's  just  royal  ever}rwhere,"  declared  Bessie.  "  I 
feel  as  if  I  could  not  get  enough  of  it ;  "  and  she  drew  a 
long,  delicious  breath. 

Miss  Graham  glanced  at  her  sharply.  Nelly  noted  the 
difference  in  the  two  faces,  —  one  tired,  and  a  trifle  faded, 
with  a  little  frown  between  the  brows,  and  a  sharp  com- 
jpression  of  the  lips ;  the  other  sweet,  fresh,  noble,  and 
with  the  peculiar  graciousness  of  a  generous  nature 
shining  in  it.  And  yet  she,  too,  might  sip  some  poisoned 
chalice. 

Presently  Van  Alstyne  drifted  back  to  them.  Miss 
Graham's  whole  nature  seemed  to  warm  and  change. 
She  cared  so  much  for  him  then ! 

By  and  by  they  reached  a  level  spot,  where  the}*  all  sat 
down  to  rest ;  and  the  lunch-baskets  came  out,  for  it  was 
past  noon.  The  conversation  became  general.  Mrs. 
Ogden's  brilliancy  was  heightened  by  her  fine  breeding, 
though  Mrs.  Sherrard  was  witty,  and  had  that  peculiar 
something  termed  fascination ;  or  was  it  a  seductive 
aggressiveness?  Her  fine  dark  e3~es  were  languishing; 
she  put  herself  in  picturesque  attitudes  ;  she  dazzled  ;  she 
smiled  in  the  faces  of  her  companions,  showing  pearly 
teeth,  and  tempting  scarlet  lips.  Mrs.  Payne  evidently 
adored  her. 

Mr.  Mallory  and  Mr.  Endicott  had  a  discussion  quite 
to  themselves  upon  geological  formations.  Nelly  stole  a 
glance  at  this  wayfarer. 

Six  and  twenty,  perhaps,  with  a  firm,  vigorous  but 
elastic  frame,  rather  above  middle  height,  and  a  certain 
slow  grace  in  every  movement.  A  face  full  of  fine  and 
kindly  feeling ;  handsome,  too,  in  a  manly  way,  —  quite 
different  from  Van  Alstyne.  His  hair  was  a  light,  sunny 
brown  ;  but  the  brows  and  lashes  were  much  darker,  and 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  265 

gave  the  clear  blue  eyes  a  deeper  shade.  A  broad  fore 
head,  firm  and  thoughtful,  a  kind  of  decisive  nose,  that 
seemed  to  strengthen  the  face,  and  a  mouth  that  was  arch 
and  humorous,  rich  in  kindly  expressive  lines,  and  not 
lacking  firmness.  Nelly  felt  drawn  to  him  more  than  to 
any  of  the  others. 

Up  to  the  top  of  the  glorious  mountain  after  that ; 
but  the  additional  party  spoiled  it  somewhat  for  Nelly ; 
they  filled  it  so  with  littleness  and  worldliness.  Mrs. 
Payne  thought  "  mountains  were  pretty  much  alike, 
after  all."  Mrs.  Sherrard  had  Van  Alst3rne's  arm 
now,  and  was  very  effusive.  Miss  Graham  was  rather 
sullen. 

Nelly  and  Bess  seated  themselves  on  a  gray  rock,  and 
Mr.  Mallory  came  and  talked  to  them. 

"What  a  delightful  party  you  must  have  !  "  he  said. 
"  Your  father  was  tailing  me  about  it.  My  mother  and  I 
have  met  your  sister  in  New  York,  Mrs.  Duncan :  so  I 
do  not  feel  quite  like  a  stranger.  I  wonder  if  it  would 
be  too  great  a  favor  —  or  ought  I  to  ask  Mrs.  Ogden  ?  — 
if  I  might  drive  my  mother  over  some  day  to  call  on  }*ou? 
She  is  the  loveliest  old  lady  ' '  —  and  he  stopped  with  a 
blushing  laugh. 

' '  Why,  we  should  be  very  glad  to  see  her,  if  she  will 
come,"  answered  Mrs.  Kinnard. 

"  You  are  most  kind.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  fancy  she  is 
a  little  dull  at  the  hotel.  Don't  you  know  that  sometimes 
you  happen  to  fall  in  with  a  host  of  agreeable  people  ;  and 
at  others  "  —  he  stopped  there,  bit'his  lip,  and  ended  with 
a  bright  laugh.  "I  think  it  must  be  because  there  are 
no  old  ladies." 

"We  have  three,"  said  Bess;  "and  one  of  them  is 
just  as  handsome  as  any  picture ;  and  one  of  them  is 
better  than  any  picture  in  the  whole  world." 

"And  the  third?" 

Bessie  blushed  crimson,  and  turned  to  Nelly. 

23 


266  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

"  The  third  rounds  out  the  group.  You  can't  have 
them  all  alike,"  said  Nelly  with  merry  audacitjT. 

"  I  am  quite  curious  to  see  them.  The  one  better  than 
a  picture  is  "  — 

"  My  mother,"  answered  Bessie  proudly. 

There  was  a  sign  of  breaking  up.  They  ^  scrambled 
down  the  mountain-side  to  where  the  paths  diverged,  and 
then  said  their  good-b}-s.  Mrs.  Sherrard  had  tight  hold 
of  Van  Alstyne's  arm.  Mrs.  Kinnard  bad  given  Miss 
Graham  an  invitation,  earlier  in  the  day,  to  visit  her :  so 
there  were  none  exchanged  now.  Mr.  Mallory  followed 
them  a  little  farther  until  they  met  John  and  the  family 
carriage,  and  then  said  they  might  look  for  him  to 
morrow. 

They  sat  in  the  moonlight  that  evening,  and  discussed 
the  rencounter. 

"  I  like  Mr.  Mallo^,"  said  Bessie  frankly  ;  "  but  there 
is  something  about  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  that  I  should  never 
trust.  He  either  does,  or  pretends  to,  like  Mrs.  Sherrard 
a  great  deal.  And  then  he  acts  queevly  towards  Miss 
Graham,  while  it  seems  as  if  Mr.  St.  John  was  bashfully 
in  love  with  her  ;  and  she  snubs  him.  What  tangles  there 
are  in  this  world !  Now,  I  think  I  should  like  to  write 
a  book,  and  make  everybody  fall  in  love  with  the  right 
person." 

"  Don't  begin  to  bother  your  head  about  falling  in  love, 
Pussy,"  said  her  father. 

"I?  Papa  dear,  I  have  a  premonition  that  I  shall  be 
your  f amity  old  maid." 

"  So  did  Rose,"  saj-s  Fan  with  a  laugh. 

The  next  afternoon  Mr.  Mallory  and  his  mother  came 
over. 

A  handsome  old  lady,  surely,  — one  of  the  women  who 
are  glad  to  be  old,  just  as  they  were  glad  to  be  young, 
who  keep  the  great  joy  of  life  shining  through  every 
thing.  She  had  turned  sixty  now ;  was  of  middle  height 


NELLY  EZNTSTARD'S  KINGDOM.  267 

and  middle  size,  plump,  fair,  with,  pink  cheeks,  hair  of 
soft  silver  that  had  once  been  flaxen,  a  dimpled  face,  a 
sweet  mouth,  and  a  wonderful  light  gleaming  in  the  blue 
eyes.  Her  fine  striped  gray- and- white  silk  dress  had 
two  ruffles  on  the  skirt,  and  no  overskirt.  Her  narrow 
collar,  and  the  edge  to  her  sleeves,  was  fine  point.  Her 
silver-grajr  gloves  fitted  to  a  hair.  Her  pretty  white  chip 
hat  was  trimmed  with  black  thread  lace.  An  old- 
fashioned,  ingrained  rareness  and  purity,  a  clinging 
sense  of  fragrance  about  her,  that  was  as  delicate  as  if 
her  clothes  had  lain  in  it  for  years,  rather  than  any  sharp 
obtrusivcness  just  sprinkled  out  of  a  smart  scent-bottle. 
In  her  wa}',  she  was  fully  a  match  for  Miss  Churchill. 

And,  with  her,  her  son  shone  out  in  a  new  light.  The 
love  that  had  grown  out  of  her  very  life  had  returned  to 
be  her  stay  and  support.  She  wore  her  grace  of  mother 
hood  like  a  crown  ;  -and  his  sonship  was  not  less  beautiful 
to  see,  —  his  quiet,  chivalrous  attending,  as  if  she  were 
the  "  fairest  lady  in  all  the  land." 

The}'  sat  out  on  the  great  porch,  —  some  in  rocking- 
chairs,  some  on  the  wide  wooden  benches,  and  on  the 
grass-plot :  they  did  not  call  it  lawn.  Essie  and  Archie 
were  tumbling  about ;  the  baby  was  crowing  in  her  nurse's 
arms  ;  and  Bertie  was  swinging  in  a  hammock. 

"  It  is  worth  coming  to  see,  Eugene,"  cried  his  mother, 
in  a  tone  that  was  glad  and  sweet,  like  herself.  "And 
now,  friends,  don't  leave  off  doing  anything  because  I  am 
here  :  the  picture  is  perfect  without  any  alteration.  Just 
let  me  sit  down  in  the  midst." 

Bessie  was  on  the  step,  crocheting  with  bright  wools. 
Mr.  Mallory  found  a  place  beside  her,  and  they  all  talked. 
First  it  was  of  Mrs.  Duncan  (Mrs.  Mallory  had  known  the 
elder  Duncan  family) ,  then  Mrs.  Endicott,  afterward  the 
girls,  before  she  came  to  the  grandchildren. 

"  You  ought  to  be  a  happy  woman  with  four  such 
daughters,"  she  exclaimed;  and  there  was  a  tremulous 
light  in  her  eyes. 


268  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

"There  are  two  more  at  home,  and  a  'baby'  some 
where,"  said  Mr.  Endicott.  "  Mother,  where  is  Edith?  " 

"  Seven !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Mallory. 

"  Seven,"  laughed  Mr.  Endicott. 

"And  I  had  four  sons;  but  this  is  all  I  have  now. 
God  has  been  very  good  to  you,  Mrs.  Endicott.  I  used 
to  think  I  should  like  so  to  have  a  daughter.  But,  if  I 
had  not  gone  to  him  in  my  trouble  and  losses,  I  do  not 
know  how  I  should  have  lived.  '  He  brings  us  to  the 
haven  where  we  would  be,'  and  just  asks  that  we  shall 
trust  his  promises  ;"  and  her  voice  fell  a  little,  as  one's 
does  unconsciously  when  speaking  of  a  matter  very  near 
the  heart,  yet  long  past.  "  But  there  seems  no  lack  of 
sons  with  j'ou,  after  all,"  she  went  on  brightl}*. 

Mr.  Endicott  turned  to  her  with  his  soft,  friendly  smile. 

Then  the  grandchildren  were  brought  up ;  and  Bertie 
came  with  them. 

"She  isn't  my  very  own  mamma,"  Bertie  explained, 
in  answer  to  some  wondering  comment ;  "  but  papa  loves 
her,  and  so  do  I."  .  -=•-  - 

"You  had  a  deal  of  courage,"  said  Mrs.  Mallory, 
glancing  almost  sharply  at  Nell}*. 

"  She  had  what  is  better  than  courage,"  remarked  the 
elder  Mrs.  Kinnard,  in  an  almost  jealous  tone,  —  "  good 
ness  and  kindliness." 

What  an  odd,  charming,  piquant  call  it  was  !  An  hour 
passed  before  any  one  thought ;  and  at  parting  they  urged 
her  to  come  again. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  offer  a  like  entertainment; 
but  I  have  seen  more  charming  people  than  there  are  at 
our  hotel.  We  were  thinking  of  leaving  next  week. 
However,  I  must  come  over  again ;  for  I  have  not  half 
satisfied  nryself.  So  adieu  for  a  brief  while." 

Fan,  Nclby,  Bess,  and  their  father,  went  out  to  the  gate. 
Mrs.  Mallor}T  nodded  and  smiled  again. 

"  That  is  what  I  call  running  straight  into  a  rose-gar 
den,  Eugene,"  she  said  to  her  son. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"  All  familiar  things  he  touched, 
All  common  words  he  spake,  became  to  me 
Like  forms  and  sounds  of  a  diviner  world." 

SHELLEY. 

Miss  GRAHAM  brought  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  out  with  her 
when  she  came  to  spend  the  day  at  the  cottage.  She 
had  offered  him  a  great  temptation  in  asking  him ;  and  he 
did  not  desire  to  resist  it.  But  she  was  full  of  smoulder 
ing  jealousy  because  he  and  Bessie  had  a  few  bright 
passages  at  arms,  and  once  went  off  together  to  look  at 
a  bird's  nest. 

"  I  am  very  soriy  for  her,'*  said  Mrs.  Ogden.  "  Why 
does  she  cany  her  heart  so  plainly  on  her  sleeve  ?  And 
one  can  only  suppose  that  he  is  trifling  with  her.  Does 
she  not  see  it  ?  " 

"  She  was  so  nice  last  summer !  "  Nelly  remarked  in  a 
kind  of  extenuating  tone. 

"  Did  he  care  for  her  then?  " 

"  Not  at  all,  or  not  especially.  He  is  not  a  manying 
man  ; ' '  and  Nelly  paused  to  wonder  whether  Daisy  — 

"  Then  he  has  no  business  to  entangle  any  woman's 
affections,"  spoke  out  Mr.  Churchill  strongly.  "It  is 
one  of  the  most  selfish  and  cowardly  things  that  can  be 
done.  And  women  should  try  to  frown  it  down." 

"  But  too  many  of  our  modern  girls  take  it  as  a  tri 
umph,"  said  Nell}'. 

"  And  my  opinion  regarding  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  is,  that 
Mrs.  Shcrrard  will  succeed.  She  is  one  of  the  kind  who 

23*  26i) 


270  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

always  win  when  they  make  the  attempt.  I  neither 
liked  nor  admired  her ;  but  she  is  handsome  and  witt}*. 
Did  Miss  Graham  tell  you  she  had  been  divorced?"  asked 
Fanny. 

"  Yes.  Then  some  one  left  her  a  fortune,  and  she  went 
to  Europe." 

"  She  is  rather  too  pronounced ;  but,  as  we  do  not  care, 
we  can  let  her  alone." 

Mr.  Van  Alstyne  would  fain  have  effected  a  familiar 
entree  at  the  cottage ;  but  the  Fates  forbade.  Then  he 
grew  irritated,  and  started  off  suddenly ;  but  among  one 
of  the  earliest  marriages  in  the  autumn  was  his  and  Mrs. 
Sherrard's.  How  she  managed  was  a  mystery.  What  the 
world  did  not  know,  was,  that  he  had  nearly  run  through 
with  his  fortune  ;  and  the  fascinating  widow  was  both  rich 
and  prodigal. 

Ah,  Daisy  Endicott !  all  the  after-years  did  avenge  you 
grandly. 

Mrs.  Sherrard  and  the  Paynes  following  so  soon 
in  the  wake  of  Mr.  Van  Alstyne 's  defection,  the  Mallorys 
changed  their  minds,  and  decided  to  stay.  There  came 
to  be  a  very  pleasant  going  back  and  forth.  Mrs.  Mai- 
lory  was  delightful  on  further  acquaintance.  She  had 
been  ever}Twhere,  and  seen  so  many  notable  people,  — • 
kings,  queens,  great  generals,  several  remarkable  artists 
and  authors,  —  and  had  so  many  charming  reminiscences 
to  relate,  that  her  days  were  really  red-letter  da3~s. 
Her  husband  had  been  abroad  on  several  governmental 
appointments,  though  Eugene  was  but  fourteen  when  he 
died.  She  added  to  the  quartet  of  old  ladies  a  won 
derful  grace  and  interest ;  and  Mr.  Mallory  soon  made 
himself  a  favorite.  Yet  they  could  not  be  blind.  Some 
day  papa  would  have  to  say,  "  And  this  one  also." 

But  no  one  spoke  or  jested.  It  seemed  an  almost  holy 
thing  that  this  young  girl  should  go  so  simply  forward  to 
her  fate,  neither  dreading,  expecting,  nor  desiring,  until 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  271 

the  day  came  when  her  eyes  should  be  opened  with  love's 
own  rosy,  beneficent  touch.  No  glare  of  ball-rooms,  no 
heat  and  flush  of  dancing,  rivalry,  a'nd  excitement,  no  crowd 
of  society -people,  anxious  to  tear  off  the  garment  of  sim 
plicity,  and  make  her  as  worldly-wise  as  themselves,  and 
dim  the  puritj^  of  face  and  heart ;  little  family  conven 
tions  rather,  a  whole  group  gathered  out  on  the  porch,  or 
under  the  trees  ;  Bessie  playing  with  a  baby,  or  doing  a 
bit  of  bright  fancy-work,  which  was  her  passion.  Some 
where  near  her  lingered  Mr.  Mallory.  She  fell  into  a 
fashion  of  referring  to  him,  of  asking  him  questions, 
sending  him  on  trifling  errands  that  would  not  take  him 
out  of  sight,  and  thanking  him  with  such  a  bewitching 
grace.  She  was  piquant  and  flashing,  rather  than  shy ; 
but  with  her  it  was  the  bravery  of  entire  innocence,  rather 
than  any  approach  to  boldness.  Her  admiration  of  Mr. 
Mallory  was  very  outspoken — just  as  she  admired  her 
father  or  Dr.  Kinnard. 

"  If  I  were  a  French  woman,  Mr.  Endicott,"  said  Mrs. 
Mallory  one  day,  ' '  I  should  ask  your  daughter  for  my 
son.  In  some  things,  we  might  study  our  neighbors  to  an 
advantage.  Their  children  have  not  altogether  outgrown 
filial  affection  or  reverence  ;  and  certainly,  the  first  part 
of  courtship  doss  not  need  secrecy  and  affectation,  as  if 
it  was  a  thing  to  be  thrust  out  of  sight  He  has  met  many 
women  ;  but  so  far  I  have  been  his  most  intimate  friend. 
He  is  quite  worthy  of  your  daughter,  and  that  is  saying  a 
great  deal ;  for  I  have  seen  no  person  until  now  that  I 
coveted  for  him.  You  need  not  fear  aught  but  the  most 
motherly  welcome  for  her." 

"  She  is  so  young !  "  faltered  the  father,  with  a  secret 
pang  at  seeing  his  household-nest  thus  despoiled  of  its 
treasures. 

"  Mr.  Endicott,  I  was  sixteen  when  I  married  "  (and 
in  her  more  earnest  tones  there  was  a  not  unmusical 
sharpness,  like  a  sweet-toned  bell  wildly  shaken,  that 


272  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

somehow  thrilled  j'ou),  "and  my  husband  died  a  little 
more  than  twelve  years  ago.  All  that  time  was  not  a 
day  too  long.  I  would  not  give  up  one  hour's  remem 
brance  now,  for  a  mint  of  gold.  If  my  son  makes  as 
good  a  husband" — and  a  tear  trembled  in  the  lustrous 
eye. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  Mr.  Endicott  hurriedly,  clasping  the 
soft,  dimpled  hand. 

"And  now  the  rest  they  can  settle  for  themselves," 
she  made  answer  with  a  smile. 

There  came  to  be  a  sweet  and  gracious  rival^  among 
these  old  ladies,  —  a  bringing-out  of  what  was  best  and 
kindliest,  just  as  they  wore  their  pretty  laces,  fine  quaint 
lawns,  with  suggestions  of  other  summers  in  them,  and 
their  rich,  soft  silks.  And  Nelly  could  not  see  her 
family  grandmother  fall  behind.  A  touch  added  here 
to-day,  and  there  to-morrow,  softening  and  refining ;  an 
act  of  tender  respect  or  graceful  deference  that  roused 
the  very  springs  of  her  nature,  though  the}*  had  been 
quite  choked  with  the  debris  of  other  years.  She  used  to 
go  to  ride  with  Bertie  with  a  glad,  proud  air,  as  if  she 
discerned  the  grace  in  her  grandson,  and  appreciated  it. 

Dr.  Kinnard  and  "Winthrop  Ogden  were  added  to  the 
party  presently  ;  and  there  followed  a  fortnight  of  whole 
some,  delightful  enjoyment,  —  a  fresh,  live  moaning  in 
every  thing  for  them,  from  the  mountain-tops  at  noon, 
to  the  suppers  in  the  twilight ;  from  the  splendor  of  a 
sunset  to  the  bits  and  fragments  of  c very-day  life. 

"I  seem  to  realize  more  and  more  how  we  are  giving 
up  our  places  to  others,"  Miss  Churchill  said  to  Mrs. 
Endicott.  "  We  bring  out  the  old-fashioned  carnations 
that  were  the  great  things  of  our  day  ;  and  the  new  gene 
ration  cultivate  them  into  largeness  and  richness,  though 
thc3T  can't  make  them  much  sweeter,"  \yth  her  grand 
smile.  "But  it  is  all  right.  If  we  had  not  labored, 
the}*  might  have  no  carnations  to  improve  upon." 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  273 

"And  so  my  prett}'  Queen  Bess  has  been  captured  in 
my  absence,"  said  Dr.  Kinnard  to  his  wife  in  a  rather 
disconsolate  tone.  "  And  she  is  to  '  shine  down  '  all  yon 
girls,  even  Mrs.  Fan.  Stephen  Duncan  was  speaking  of 
them.  There  is  almost  no  end  to  Mrs.  Mallory's  wealth. 
She  was  one  of  the  Livingstons,  and  inherited  two  or 
three  fortunes  in  her  own  right.  Now,  if  Bess  had  been 
tricked  out  in  silks  and  diamonds,  and  gone  to  Newport 
or  Saratoga  "  — 

"  Are  you  quite  sure?  "  exclaimed  Nelly,  aghast  at  so 
overwhelming  a  prospect.  "Why,  we  never  thought  — 
I  wonder  that  some  of  the  girls  at  the  hotel  didn't  prefer 
him  to  Mr.  Van  Alstyue,  whom  they  all  seemed  so 
bewitched  about." 

Nell}-  had  kept  that  brief  episode  to  confess  personally, 
rather  than  trust  it  to  a  letter.  But  her  husband  had  no 
fears  now  :  "  his  heart  safely  trusted  her." 

"Young  women  may  not  alwa}*s  know;"  and  he 
shrugged  his  broad '  shoulders  with  a  touch  of  humor. 
"  But,  if  Boss  had  not  liked  him,  twice  that  money  would 
not  have  tempted  her.  I  lay  the  flattering  unction  to 
my  soul,  that  my  money  did  not  tempt  }'ou,"  with  a 
funii}'  little  laugh. 

"  Nell}',"  he  said  later,  "  I  cannot  understand  the  mar 
vellous  change  3*011  have  worked  in  mother.  She  is  so 
much  softer  and  kinder  and  more  gracious ;  and  you 
make  her  look  such  a  pretty  old  lady,  I  declare,  I  am 
very  proud  of  her." 

"i  think  she  softens  herself  by  loving,"  Nelly  an 
swered  simply. 

And  then  they  began  to  talk  about  going  home.  There 
were  last  walks  and  rides,  going  about  to  say  good-by  to 
every  thing  as  Bessie  phrased  it. 

"  Mamma,"  she  said,  as  they  sat  on  the  porch  one 
starlight  night,  when  there  was  no  moon,  and  the  babies 
were  all  gathered  inside,  —  "mamma,  I've  been  so 


274  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

happy  all  summer !  I  have  so  many  pictures  treasured 
up,  I  sometimes  wish  I  had  a  genius,  like  you  or  Fan. 
But  after  all,"  with  her  brightly-flavored  laugh,  "that 
could  only  take  in  a  few ;  and  my  memoiy  is  a  bstter 
portfolio.  I  don't  suppose  I  shall  ever  see  an}-  Alps  or 
any  Rhine,  or  streams  of  Wye  or  Severn,  or  even  banks 
and  braes  of  Doon  ;  but  I  am  quite  content  and  glad  and 
strong,  to  go  back  home,  and  take  up  the  little  things, 
and  talk  over  all  these  great  things.  And,  if  I  never 
have  another  grand  holiday  in  all  my  life,  I  think  I  shall 
be  satisfied." 

Eugene  Mallory  sat  on  the  step  below,  and  listened, 
planning  in  his  heart.  And,  when  the  dream  became  too 
sweet,  he  rose  suddenly,  and  said, — the  thing  farthest 
from  his  present  thought,  — 

"Are  you  not  cold,  Queenie?  The  nights  are  begin 
ning  to  grow  chilly.  Let  me  get  your  shawl.  There ! 
and  now  I  must  go.  It  is  a  long  ride  over  to  the  hotel ; 
and  mother  will  sit  up  waiting.  —  Good-night,  Mrs. 
Endicott." 

Bessie  walked  down  to  the  gate  with  him,  —  a  lithe, 
graceful  girl,  with  sunshine  in  her  face,  her  hair,  her 
heart.  Some  time  she  would  ripen  into  a  gracious  and 
lovely  woman,  with  that  better  charm  than  mere  physical 
beauty.  She  seemed  to  him  like  a  rosy,  cheerful  dawn, 
or  a  bright,  warm  spring  da}'.  How  would  he  dare  bring 
her  any  nearer,  —  into  his  very  life?  It  was  so  delicious, 
pausing  here  on  the  charmed  threshold  of  manhood's 
sweet  mystery. 

But  it  came  of  itself,  a  few  days  after,  —  a  word,  a  look, 
a  tremulous  tone,  a  sudden  scarlet  flush,  and  drooping  of 
eyes,  on  her  part,  and  a  brave,  sweet  gladness  on  his, 
that  spoke  in  every  feature  as  lie  took  her  to  his  heart. 
Lovers !  Yesterday  they  were  friends,  just  touching  the 
rims  of  each  other's  boundaries  ;  and  to-day  it  was  so 
bewilderingly  different.  The  joy  almost  dazed  one. 


NELLY  KINKARD'S  KINGDOM.  275 

She  could  have  lived  without  it  before  she  had  it ;  but 
now  to  give  it  up  would  be  a  pang  bitterer  than  death. 

"  My  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Mallory,  when  they  began  to 
talk  about  it  a  little,  "  I  want  you  to  take  me  for  a 
mother  in  deed  and  in  truth.  Eugene  is  all  I  have  in 
this  world ;  and  I  see  no  reason  why  a  mother  should  be 
shut  out  of  her  son's  life  when  she  is  old.  He  has  had 
the  best  and  richest  of  hers,  much  more  than  she  can 
ever  have  of  his.  I  know  there  is  a  strong  prejudice 
against  mothers-in-law  ;  and  young  people  are  said  to  be 
better  off  by  themselves,  as  if  their  greatest  joy  should 
narrow  their  life  and  Sj'inpathies  at  once.  You  can  spare 
me  a  little  out  of  these  bright,  young  days ;  and  I  shall 
try  to  give  it  back  in  mother-love.  I  cannot  be  parted 
from  him." 

"  No,"  Bessie  said  wondering!  }r,  looking  into  the  eager 
face,  with  its  pink  cheeks,  and  proud  yet  beseeching 
63-68,  —  "  no :  why  should  it  be?  Why  shouldn't  we  both 
love  him?  As  if  anybody  could  have  —  too  much." 

"  Thank  3*011,  my  dear ;  "  and  there  was  a  little  huski- 
ness  in  the  ringing,  musical  voice.  "  You  will  be  none 
the  loser." 

Mr.  Endicott  asked  them,  in  his  simply  hospitable 
manner,  to  spend  a  few  days  at  the  rectory ;  and  they 
came.  Rose  put  the  guest-chamber  in  order,  just  as  she 
had  for  her  own  lover,  long  ago,  it  seemed,  when  he  was 
a  stranger.  And  Fan  insisted  that  Nelly  should  come 
to  West  Side  with  her  husband,  and  spend  Sunday,  to 
hear  Louis  Duncan  preach. 

So  they  were  all  together  again, —  children  and  children's 
children,  except  the  one  "  who  was  not,"  the  smiling, 
angelic  baby,  who  had  lived  out  his  folded,  rose-leaf  life, 
and  left  behind  a  rare  fragrance  that  would  never  die 
quite  out  of  their  hearts. 

But  the  little  mother  looked  so  piteous  with  her  great 
asking,  sorrowing  eyes,  and  her  empty  arms,  that  seemed 


276  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

to  go  out  into  void  space  caressingly,  as  if  she  hoped  to 
find  him  again  ;  her  absent,  listening  expression,  as  if  she 
was  waiting  for  him  to  speak  from  somewhere.  There 
was  a  black  ribbon  around  the  neck  of  her  white  dress, 
and  another  in  her  leghorn  hat.  Step&en  did  not  like  her 
to  wear  mourning :  so  she  put  off  all  but  these  small  signs. 

An  odd,  unworldly  life  they  had  led  in  that  homely 
rectory  during  the  past  two  months.  Business  had  taken 
Stephen  away  now  and  then.  Louis  had  thrown  him 
self  heart  and  soul  into  the  work,  with  the  enthusiasm 
of  a  poetic  nature  which  the  lad  had  always  possessed ; 
though,  in  earlier  years,  it  had  only  cropped  out  in  irrita 
tions  that  rasped  him  to  the  core,  heart-burnings,  anger, 
and  jealousy.  But  he  had  found  his  place  and  his  work. 
An  idealist  he  would  always  be,  clothing,  or  longing  to 
clothe,  every  thing  with  his  exquisite  perception  of  beauty 
and  fitness,  to  find  the  hidden  types  and  meanings,  to  go 
up  on  glorified  mounts,  to  see  behind  the  .cloud  and  pillar 
of  fire,  —  the  kind  of  man  of  whom,  in  olden  times, 
devotees  were  made,  who  saw  Christ  as  if  in  a  vision. 
A  sense  of  spiritual  exaltation  shone  in  every  feature. 

lie  was  delicate  looking,  though  not  unhealthy,  and 
with  a  glow  of  mystic  worship  in  his  e}'es,  a  reverence 
in  eveiy  movement,  a  sweetness  and  persuasiveness  that 
was  almost  womanlj',  3*et  not  weak.  His  sermons  indi 
cated  much  thought,  refinement,  and  culture  ;  yet  they 
had  the  pith  of  the  old  teaching,  and  never  lost  sight  of 
the  great  truth  in  all  the  flow  of  poetic  imagery. 

Remembering  the  wayward  bo}',  Mr.  Endicott  gave 
thanks  anew  ;  first-fruits  of  which  he  would  never  need 
to  be  ashamed,  surely. 

"  Between  Stephen  and  Louis,  Rose  seems  a  very 
child,"  said  Nell}-  to  the  doctor  as  they  were  walking 
home  from  church  in  the  silveiy  glow  of  the  September 
evening,  with  the  air  full  of  delicious,  ripening  odors. 
u  Why,  it  seems  to  me  as  if  Fan  and  I  were  ages  older ; 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  277 

» 

or  is  it  because  we  are  so  much  taller  ?  Poor  girl !  she 
is  the  only  one  that  has  had  a  lasting  sorrow  thus  far." 

"I  wish  she  had  not  taken  it  to  Louis  ;"  and  there 
was  a  kind  of  dissatisfaction  in  her  husband's  tone. 

"  "Wh}-,  it  is  perfectly  natural.  He  is  a  clergyman,  and 
the}-  always  were  unusual  friends.  He  thinks  she  saved 
him  once  ;  and  she  did.  Barton,  I  won't  have  3*ou  even 
fancj'ing  ' '  — 

She  stopped  because  she  hardly  knew  what  he  did 
fane}*,  and  there  was  a  jealous  warmth  in  her  tone.  The 
one  who  thought  any  harm  of  Rose  must  answer  to  her 
quick  and  sharp. 

"My  darling,  I  am  not  imagining  anything  in  the 
absolute  ^nse  of  wrong.  Stephen  stands  and  looks  at 
her  in  great  awe,  and  then  steps  aside  ;  and  she  turns  to 
his  brother,  because  he  is,  as  jou  say,  a  clergyman. 
But  no  person  or  thing  has  any  right  to  come  between 
husband  and  wife  —  no  sympathy,  any  more  than  love." 

"  I  will  not  have  }'ou  judging  her  hardly,"  and  Nelly's 
voice  trembled. 

"She  is  lovely  and  sweet;  and  she  is  an  Endicott: 
can  I  sa}'  any  thing  greater?"  with  an  abrupt  but 
tender  pressure.  "  But  I  have  had  a  wider  experience 
than  an}'  of  you ;  and  marriage  seems  to  me  a  kind  of 
promised  land.  It  is  promised,  and  you  set  out  for  it ; 
but  with  some  there  is  forty  years  in  the  wilderness,-  and 
they  only  behold  it  afar  off,  never  quite  entering  in.  A 
day  or  a  month  doesn't  comprise  it  all ;  a  kiss  and  a 
little  caressing  is  not  all  the  manna  :  it  is  the  giving  and 
receiving  on  both  sides  ;  and  what  is  given  has  no  right 
to  be  handed  over  to  another ;  neither  has  one  any  right 
to  withhold.  It  is  the  empty  place  out  of  which  the 
little  child  has  gone  ;  and  some  day  she  will  come  to  see 
that  only  a  husband's  love  can  fill  it.  Yet  it  is  so  natural 
for  a  woman  to  crave  the  finest  there  is  in  sympathy." 

"But  Louis  is  so  good;  and  if  you  could  know  all 

24 


278  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

there  was  between  them  in  the  past.  I  think  two 
brothers  never  loved  one  another  as  those  two  Duncans 
do  now." 

Dr.  Kinnard  Was  silent  for  a  few  moments,  and  then 
changed  the  talk  to  some  other  subject.  It  was  a  subtle 
under-current  that  he  saw  with  the  practised  e}-e  of  a 
thoughtful  physician.  Might  it  not  right  itself,  especiall}- 
if  another  child  should  come  to  draw  them  together? 
For  happiness  is  not  a  settled  and  unchanging  truth. 
What  satisfied  yesterday  may  be  as  but  crumbs  to 
morrow. 

The  addition  of  the  Mallorys  to  the  household  attracted 
and  diverted  attention.  Mrs.  Mallory  was  as  charmingly 
at  home  as  if  she  had  been  coming  back  to  some  earlier 
haunt.  She  possessed  the  fine  grace  of  thorough  breed 
ing,  that  would  never  lead  any  one  to  wonder  if  things 
were  good  enough.  You  forgot  what  you  proffered  ;  or, 
rather,  she  so  'glorified  it  to  3*ou,  that  straightway  it  be 
came  of  the  best.  She  flitted  in  and  out ;  she  was  ex 
quisitely  motherly  to  these  3'oung  men,  who  paid  her  the 
purest  respect.  Even  now,  had  she  so  willed,  she  could 
have  drawn  an  enchanted  circle  around  her  equal  to  that 
of  some  of  the  famous  old  Frenchwomen. 

Bessie  was  in  a  glow  and  radiance.  The  blood  rippled 
vividly  through  her  fair  skin  ;  tremulous  lights  and  shad 
ows  fluttered  in  her  eyes  ;  and  her  voice  had  a  musical 
fulness,  as  if  it  came  from  an  overflowing  soul.  She  was 
oddly  sh}',  now,  having  lost  her  friend,  and  hardl}'  daring 
to  accept  his  attentions  in  the  new  light  of  a  lover.  But 
with  his  mother  there  was  no  timidity. 

She  was  j'oung,  and  they  would  not  hurry  matters. 

"  You  see,"  explained  Mrs.  Mallory,  "  I  am  a  believ 
er  in  pleasant  courtships.  It  is  a  season  in  our  3~oung 
lives  that  nothing  ever  blights.  It  has  no  cares  like 

o  o 

marriage,  and,  in  its  happy  ignorance,  sees  nothing  save 
endless  islands  of  delight  all  along  the  sunshiny  shore. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  279 

It  is  a  great  thing  to  believe  in  the  perfection  of  bliss 
even  for  a  }-ear  or  two  ;  "  and  her  rippling  laugh  seemed 
to  frame  in  her  sentences. 

"  And  now,  '  gude  wife,'  we  must  go  home,"  declared 
Dr.  Kinnard.  "  I  feel  as  if  I  had  been  on  a  fresh 
honeymoon,  and  may  do  something  ridiculous  presently, 
since  love-making  is  all  the  rage." 

"  It  has  been  a  wedding-journey,"  returned  Nelly 
with  tender  gravity.  "  I  seem  to  be  having  delightful 
holidays  here  and  there,  and  only  a  little  of  the  sober 
work." 

"Ah,  you  think  so!"  And  he  remembered  jvhat 
would  have  been  a  grievous  burthen  to  some  women. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  Blind  and  hardened  they 
Who  hope  for  peace  amid  the  storms  of  care  ; 
Who  covet  power  they  know  not  how  to  use, 
And  sigh  for  pleasures  they  refuse  tO'give." 

PKOMETHEUS 


THE  Kinnards  were  at  home  again,  though  it  was 
some  time  before  they  dropped  into  their  olden  groove  ; 
there  was  so  much  to  see  and  hear,  so  many  old  friends 
dropping  in  to  welcome  them  back  ! 

The  church  had  gone  on  beautifully.  It  was  to  be 
built  of  gray  stone,  and  they  had  been  very  fortunate  in 
securing  some  that  had  been  cut  under  another  contract  ; 
so  that  the  walls,  they  hoped,  would  all  be  up  before  cold 
weather.  It  was  to  be  Gothic,  with  a  clerestory  and  a 
tower,  a  ver}r  decided  ornament  to  the  town. 

Then  Miss  Grove  and  Maud  returned  home,  both  im 
mensely  consequential.  Nelly  had  witnessed  nothing 
like  it  the  whole  summer. 

"Dr.  Kinnard,"  Miss  Grove  said  the  next  morning, 
at  the  breakfast-  table,  "  I  desire  to  see  you  privately  at 
your  earliest  convenience." 

"  Ver}-  well,  come  in  the  office  presently,"  was  the 
undaunted  answer. 

Maud  looked  consciously  elated.  "  What  a  haughty, 
disagreeable  girl!"  thought  Nelly.  "Will  airy  one 
blame  me  for  it,  I  wonder  ?  '  ' 

The  conference  was  quite  lengtlry.  Maud  meanwhile 
was  entertaining  her  stepmother  with  a  description  of 

280 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  281 

Saratoga,  quite  as  if  she  had  taken  pity  on  her  benighted 
seclusion. 

"  Come,  Maud,"  exclaimed  her  aunt,  sweeping  through 
the  hall. 

The  doctor  beckoned  to  his  wife,  who  went  in,  when 
he  closed  the  door  carefully. 

"Wonders  will  never  cease,"  he  began,  then  gave  a 
hearty  laugh,  thrusting  both  hands  into  his  pockets. 

"  Then  it  is  nothing  bad?  "  And  Nelly  looked  amused. 

"Some  one  has  been  found  brave  enough  to  bell  the 
cat :  that  was  our  old  idea,  was  it  not  ? ' '  and  his  eyes 
twinkled  mirthfull}*. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  was  her  surprised  question, 
for  she  could  not  believe  the  thought  that  flashed  into  her 
mind. 

"  That  the  whole  world  has  gone  marriage  mad. 
Auut  Adelaide  has  succumbed  to  the  destiny  of  women- 
kind." 

Nelly's  face  was  one  ripple  of  astonishment. 

"  She  would  never  have  entertained  such  an  idea,  but 
for  my  misbehavior.  She  would  have  been  content  to 
devote  her  life  to  me  and  the  children,  and  made  an  hon 
orable  and  happy  home  :  I  believe  those  were  her  very 
words.  But  since  this  place  never  can  be  a  home  to  her 
again ;  since  she  has  been  continually  thwarted  in  her 
endeavors  to  do  her  duty  by  the  children,  and  estranged 
from  them  ;  since  she  has  been  made  to  feel  that  she  was 
not  welcome  (and  that  vexed  me,  Nelly,"  interposed 
the  doctor  with  a  frown) ,  —  "  there  was  no  other  course 
left.  The  long  and  the  short  of  it  is,  that  she  has 
accepted  one  Mr.  Garland,  and  has  been  in  New  York 
superintending  her  wedding  outfit.  Early  in  October  she 
is  to  become  Mrs.  Garland." 

"  But  who  is  he?  "  was  Nelly's  inquiry. 

"  A  stock-broker.  I  do  hope  Adelaide's  vanity  and 
self-complacency  have  not  blinded  her  into  making  a  bad 

24* 


282  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

bargain.  She  met  him  at  Saratoga.  He  is  about  her 
agj,  a  widower,  with  two  children  married  (sons  at  that) , 
and,  she  thinks,  wealthy.  I  trust  it  may  be  so.  She  has 
a  comfortable  fortune  of  her  own ;  and  it  would  be  a 
shame  to  have  it  frittered  away.  What  with  accruing 
interest,  it  must  be  at  least  twenty  thousand.  She  has 
spent  nothing  since  she  came  here,  except  for  clothes  and 
occasional  journeys.*' 

"  I  hope  she  will  do  well,"  said  Nelly  in  a  tone  of 
great  relief.  To  be  quite  free !  Whj*,  she  could  hardly 
realize  it. 

"  Well  I  hope  so  too.  It  would  be  folly  for  either  of  us 
to  deny  that  her  going  is  any  thing  but  an  unalloyed 
pleasure.  Still  I  was  glad  to  have  her  come  during  her 
sister's  illness  ;  and  I  should  not  have  liked  to  send  her 
away  while  we  could  get  along  amicably  together.  Is 
this  another  intervention  of  Providence,  Nell}'?  "  And, 
drawing  his  fair  young  wife  to  him,  he  pressed  lovers' 
kisses  on  her  lips. 

"  Yes,  I  am  thankful,"  was  her  fervent  reply. 

"There  is  one  bone  of  contention  looming  up.  She 
wants  to  take  Maud  altogether." 

"O  Barton!  it  does  not  seem  quite  right,"  cried 
Nelly  in  genuine  anxiety.  "It  is  such  a  fatal  influence 
for  a  young  girl.  I  do  believe  I  would  rather  have  her 
shallow  and  frivolous  than  so  conceitedly  proper,  so 
arrogant,  and  coldl}"  selfish.  With  all  her  education,  she 
is  narrow,  and  ignorant  of  the  real  aims  of  life." 

"  I  know  it ;  and  it  is  my  grief.  Nell}',  I  wish  I  could 
have  given  her  into  your  care  two  years  ago  :  but  it  was 
not  possible,  and  it  would  have  been  too  great  a  charge 
for  3'ou.  Then  I  think  Maud  is  radically  ditFerent  from 
Bertie.  I  have  a  son,  at  least,"  he  said  proudly.* 

"Will  yon  let  her  go?" 

"  I  think  not.  Advise  me,  Nell}' ;  "  and,  coming  near 
her,  he  leaned  both  elbows  on  the  table,  resting  his  per- 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  283 

plexed  face  in  his  hands.  "  We  could  not  keep  her  at 
home,  3'ou  see.  She  would  be  dissatisfied,  and  exagger 
ate  every  trifle  to  her  aunt.  I  would  not  risk  having  you 
thus  misrepresented.  So  she  would  have  to  be  sent  to 
boarding-school,  where  she  would  not  be  at  all  content,  I 
suspect.  I  think  Aunt  Adelaide  really  loves  her  ;  and,  if 
any  evil  befell  her,  she  would  never  forgive  me.  Still,  on 
the  other  hand,  I  cannot  see  her  ruined  without  some 
effort  to  save  her.  I  am  her  father." 

"She  had  better  go  to  school,"  returned  Nelly  deci 
sively.  "She  is  only  a  little  girl  yet,  barely  fourteen; 
and  three  years'  association  with  companions  of  her  own 
age  may  do  a  great  deal  for  her.  Aunt  Adelaide  would 
make  her  a  woman  before  her  time,  without  a  woman's 
sense  or  judgment.  I  never  saw  any  one  who  had  such 
an  uncompromising  hostility  to  childhood  pure  and  sim 
ple  as  Miss  Grove." 

"  The  first  agreement  was,  that  she  should  be  a  kind  of 
governess  to  the  children  until  the}'  were  old  enough  to  go 
to  school.  But  she  insists  upon  keeping  Maud  ;  and  I 
daresa}*  we  shall  have  some  hard  talks  over  it." 

"  She  might  spend  part  of  her  vacations  with  her  aunt, 
and  part  here." 

"It  shall  be,  some  way.  I  only  needed  your  verdict 
about  the  school  to  decide  me.  None  of  you  girls  were 
ever  away  at  school  ?  ' ' 

"  No."     And  Nelly  thought  of  their  happy  home-life. 

"  Well,  my  dear,  I  must  go  out.  I  have  idled  away 
half  the  morning,  and  shall,  no  doubt,  prescribe  matrimony 
for  some  patient  before  I  am  through.  So  good-by, 
sweetheart." 

Nelly  went  around  in  a  maze.  "  Aunt  Adelaide 
married  !  What  could  Mr.  Garland  be  like  ?  Would  the 
wedding  take  place  here  ?  ' ' 

Miss  Grove  did  not  deign  to  inform  any  person  beside 
"  my  brother-in-law,"  as  she  had  always  resolutely  called 


284  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

him.  There  was  a  week  of  much  flurr}',  assorting  of 
clothes  and  bedding,  driving  to  the  village  ;  and  then  she 
went  to  New  York,  taking  Maud  with  her,  not  troubling 
any  one  about  permission. 

Dr.  Kinnard  felt  really  vexed.  Meanwhile,  he  con 
sulted  two  or  three  friends  on  the  subject  of  schools,  and, 
with  Nelly's  advice,  chose  one  in  a  pretty,  healthy,  and 
somewhat  old-fashioned  town.  Melrose  Hall  was  limited 
to  sevent3r-five  pupils,  and  had  three  departments,  with  a 
very  lovely  woman  for  matron,  and  an  efficient  corps  of 
teachers.  Two  of  Mrs.  Newbury's  grand-daughters  were 
there. 

Mr.  Dudley  had  spoken  of  a  church  school,  one  evening 
at  supper. 

"  No,"  said  the  doctor  good-humoredly :  "that  never 
would  do.  Mrs.  Kinnard  would  be  accused  of  proselyt 
ing.  We  shall  try  to  keep  on  the  safe  side." 

He  announced  his  decision  to  Maud  on  her  return. 

Maud  colored  a  little.  "  It  was  hardly  worth  while," 
she  said,  with  the  severe  air  of  her  aunt.  "  We  visited 
several  schools  in  New  York ;  and  I  am  to  be  entered  at 
Madame  Dufresney's  establishment.  Nothing  but  French 
and  Italian  is  allowed  to  be  used  at  the  table.  Languages 
and  music  are  to  be  my  chief  studies." 

Dr.  Kinnard  looked  at  her  in  amazement. 

"  My  child,"  he  answered  gravely,  ';  I  am  your  father, 
and  the  proper  person  to  decide.  When  you  are  older,  if 
you  should  wish  to  reside  with  your  aunt,  I  will  interpose 
no  obstacle  ;  but  at  present  3-011  are  in  my  charge." 

Maud's  lip  quivered ;  and  her  63*6  shot  out  an  angry 
light. 

"  My  little  girl,  3rou  may  feel  disappointed  for  a  while  ; 
but  some  time  3'ou  will  see  the  wisdom  of  this  step.  I 
think  I  have  some  right  to  3Tour  affection  and  interest ; 
and  I  do  desire  to  have  3rour  love." 

All  these  years  Aunt  Adelaide  had  been  nursing  the 


NELLY  KTNTSrARD'S   KDTGDOM.  285 

child's  jealousy  and  distrust.  Under  the  placid  exterior 
raged  fires  ready  to  burst  out  at  a  word,  temper  that  used 
to  find  a  ready  vent  upon  Bertie,  but  now  was  seldom 
crossed. 

"  If  you  desired  it,"  she  said  with  the  passionate  vehe 
mence  of  a  woman,  "  why  did  you  forget  my  own  dear 
dead  mother?  Why  did  you  put  another  in  her  place? 
You  care  for  no  one  but  her ;  you  ' '  — 

"  Hush,  Maud  !  "  he  interrupted  sternly.  "  You  have 
no  right  to  arraign  me,  or  the  generous  woman  I  have  put 
in  j-our  mother's  place,  when  you  have  received  only 
kindness  at  both  oar  hands.  She  has  alwaj-s  been  ready 
to  love  you.  If  I  had  wavered  before,  this  exhibition  of 
disrespect  and  anger  would  have  decided  me.  After  your 
aunt's  marriage,  }*ou  will  go  to  Melrose  Hall  to  stay  until 
Christmas.  No  persuasion  on  any  one's  part  will  induce 
me  to  relent.  I  shall  explain  it  to  Aunt  Adelaide  imme 
diately." 

Miss  Grove  expressed  much  indignation,  and  stigmatized 
the  whole  proceeding  as  cruel. 

"Adelaide,"  he  said,  "the  child  is  surely  mine.  I 
think  I  hardly  need  remind  you  now  of  the  little  care 
cither  of  these  children  received  from  their  mother.  Do 
3'ou  suppose,  had  she  been  well,  and  able  to  go  into 
societ}',  she  would  have  attended  Bertie  through  his  long 
illness,  as  his  stepmother  did?  Did  she  ever  care  for  my 
comfort  or  pleasure  ?  Truth  is  truth.  It  is  ungracious  to 
remember  the  faults  of  the  dead ;  but  you  compel  me  to. 
And  it  is  doubly  ungenerous  of  you  to  set  Maud  up  in 
rebellion." 

"  Of  course,  of  course  !  "  she  retorted  fiercely.  "  The 
child  cannot  see  —  a  large  girl  like  Maud  !  She  is  capable 
of  forming  no  conclusion  whatever."  And  her  tall  figure 
dilated  with  angr}'  passion. 

"  The  whole  world  would  be  welcome  to  see  and  judge. 
But  recrimination  is  worse  than  folly.  We  have  lived  on 


286  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

friendly  terms  so  far  ;  and  I  am  obliged  for  ever}r  kindly 
act  of  j-ours.  Do  not  let  us  mar  the  remaining  da}*s. 
My  mind  is  firmly  made  up  in  every  thing." 

He  turned  and  left  her  without  another  word.  Yet 
never  had  he  felt  so  profound  a  pity  for  the  woman  tying 
in  her  grave,  that  her  life  should  have  left  so  scant  a 
record  of  love  and  good  deeds. 

Maud  and  her  aunt  went  into  town,  and  did  not  appear 
at  either  dinner  or  supper.  The  nexUmorning  both  were 
cold  and  haughty,  Maud's  demeanor  an  absolute  and 
almost  laughable  caricature  on  her  aunt's. 

The  invitations  were  sent  out;  and  then  the  family 
learned  that  the  ceremony  would  take  place  at  noon,  in  the 
church.  Mr.  Garland  would  be  in  town  the  day  before  ; 
and,  but  for  the  late  unpleasant  occurrences,  she  would 
be  glad  to  invite  him  to  call. 

"  Humbug ! "  ejaculated  Dr.  Kinnard.  "Adelaide,  any 
person  with  ten  grains  of  common  sense  would  admit 
that  I  had  a  right  to  choose  a  school  for  my  own  child. 
Ask  j-our  Mr.  Garland  here.  I  should  like  to  meet  him." 

Trunks  and  boxes  were  packed,  and  marked  for  their 
new  destination.  Furniture  was  boxed,  and  the  house  in 
a  whirl  of  disorder,  that,  had  any  one  attempted  in  Aunt 
Adelaide's  reign,  would  have  brought  about  a  dire  storm. 
The  hall  was  well-nigh  converted  into  a  storage  place. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  Mr.  Garland  made  his  appear 
ance,  —  a  stout,  florid  man  of  middle  size, '  with  rather 
small,  keen  eyes,  and  suspiciously -brown  hair  and  beard 
for  his  fifty  j-ears.  He  was  important  and  self-asserting, 
and  might  domineer,  if  occasion  offered,  thought  Nell}'. 
His  manners  had  a  society-polish  ;  he  was  handsomely 
dressed,  and  wore  a  profusion  of  chain,  seals,  and  rings, 
with  a  prominent  diamond  shirt-stud. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  well  enough,  if  Aunt  Adelaide  likes 
him,"  was  Nelly's  comment. 

"  But  he  quite  extinguishes  plain  people  like  me,"  said 


NELLY  KESTNABD'S  KINGDOM.  287 

the  doctor,  with  the  old  humorous  twinkle  shining  in  his 
eye.  "I  must  confess  I  would  like  to  know  something 
about  his  standing  and  general  character;  but,  if  Ade 
laide  is  satisfied,  I  surely  ought  to  be  content  to  have  her 
married." 

And  married  she  was  in  the  richest  of  brown  silk,  point 
lace,  and  diamonds.  A  fine-looking  bride,  after  all. 
The  Kinnards  went  to  church,  and  wishe'd  her  joy  as  she 
started  for  Washington  on  her  tour. 

Maud  had  been  exceedingly  sullen  and  disagreeable,  so 
far  as  her  family  behavior  went ;  but  neither  father  nor 
mother  had  made  any  comment.  She  came  home  from 
church,  locked  herself  in  her  room,  and  would  have  no 
supper. 

"  Maud,"  her  father  announced  on  the  following  morn 
ing,  "  I  want  you  to  get  your  trunk  packed  to-day.  To 
morrow  I  shall  take  you  to  Melrose  Hall." 

A  furtive,  angry  gleam  sparkled  in  the  eyes  she  did  not 
venture  to  raise. 

There  was  no  softening  to  her.  She  did  condescend 
to  kiss  her  grandmother.  When  Bertie  went  to  school, 
she  had  nodded  a  cold  good-by  ;  and  she  barely  touched 
her  stepmother's  hand. 

' '  How  much  that  child  is  like  Aunt  Adelaide  ! ' '  said 
Grandmother  Kinnard.  "  I  declare  she  fairly  gives  one 
a  chill." 

' '  That  child  ' '  solaced  herself  with  many  lofty  reflec 
tions.  She  had  some  elegant  clothes,  and  she  meant  to 
astonish  the  other  girls.  She  was  the  happy  possessor 
of  diamonds.  She  was  an  heiress.  She  was  an  injured 
and  desolate  girl,  and  had  a  cruel  young  stepmother, 
whom  her  father  adored.  Altogether,  she  was  rather 
anxious  to  see  what  impression  this  would  make  upon 
"the  girls." 

Ten  days  afterward,  Aunt  Adelaide's  boxes  and  furni 
ture  went  away.  Mr.  Garland  owned  a  house  ;  and  they 


288  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

were  to  go  to  housekeeping  at  once.  Nelly  straightened 
out  her  own  domain,  and  drew  a  long  glad  breath.  She 
was  full  and  undisputed  mistress. 

Dr.  Kinnard  was  rather  grave  for  a  while,  thinking 
about  his  daughter.  Had  he  done  his  very  best?  Ah, 
the  mistake  had  commenced  farther  back.  She  inherited. 
Aunt  Adelaide's  self-complacency,  and  her  mother's  pas 
sionate,  jealous  temperament ;  and  both  had  been  fostered 
by  her  injudicious  training.  What  else  could  he  do  nov,-? 
Would  she  ever  see  the  bright,  joj'ous,  wholesome  life 
shs  was  shutting  out? 

But  he  slipped  into  an  easj',  delicious  existence;  and 
gave  himself  up  to  it  as  completely  as  he  had  on  his  bridal 
tour.  A  happy  man  he  counted  himself;  for  there  seemed 
nothing  for  Nelly  to  do  but  enjoy  it  with  him.  Rachel 
remained,  and  had  become  a  competent  housekeeper ; 
and  grandmother  was  fond  of  doing  little  bits  and  snatches 
of  work.  Daisy  and  Boss  came  over  frequently,  —  Daisy 
rarely  for  more  than  a  any  ;  but  Bessie  was  still  quite  in 
love  with  her  dear  old  doctor. 

He  yielded  himself  completely  to  the  subtle,  developing 
power  that  was  shaping  his  inner  life,  —  the  half-hidden, 
half-revealed  tenderness  of  a  pure  womanl}-  nature.  It  is 
one  thing  to  lay  down  laws  and  principles  of  existence 
from  a  narrow,  one-sided  view ;  quite  another  to  be  in  the 
midst  of,  nay,  to  be  the  object  of,  a  generous  regard,  that 
neither  exacts  nor  withholds,  but  is  like  a  free  and  boun 
tiful  sunshine  in  the  spring,  calling  to  life  and  light  the 
hundred  tender  blossoms  in  the  grass.  He  had  known  so. 
little  of  what  it  was  exalting  and  delightful  to  know  ;  and 
now  it  came  as  a  development  of  all  the  higher  facul 
ties,  ripening  like  a  late  summer.  The  manifold  joys  of 
that  sweet  trust,  when  there  was  absolutely  nothing  to 
come  between,  the  searching  into  each  other's  faces  for 
meanings  that  did  not  need  to  be  thrust  out  of  sight,  or 
saved  for  rare  moments  of  confidence,  but  dared  to  shi 


NELLY  KIKNTARD'S  KINGDOM.  289 

bravely,  with  a  minuteness  that  was  a  glimpse  of  the  soul- 
heaven  opened,  —  the  kingdom  within,  that  must  go  on 
radiating,  that  could  not  be  contained  in  a  little  space 
any  more  than  the  fulness  of  God's  love. 

Dr.  Kinnard%ad  said  to  Maud,  on  parting  with  her, 
"  I  shall  expect  to  hear  from  you  as  often  as  once  in  a 
fortnight :  so  she  wrote.  Little,  formal  notes  they  were,  — 
she  was  well ;  the  studies  were  not  severe,  for  she  was 
far  in  advance  of  her  class  ;  the  girls,  for  the  most  part, 
were  ill  bred  and  ignorant ;  the  French  teacher  had  an 
execrable  accent ;  the  rooms  were  poorly  furnished : 
and  there  was  a  general  air  of  discontent  pervading  these 
epistles.  But  she  reserved  her  chief  complaints  for  her 
aunt. 

Mrs.  Garland's  marriage,  it  must  be  confessed,  was  not 
altogether  the  success  she  had  expected.  True,  Mr. 
Garland  had  a  position,  and  did  business;  but  there 
was  more  outside  showvthan  actual  solidit}'.  His  house 
was  heavily  mortgaged,  and  part  of  it  rented  until  the 
ensuing  spring ;  and  it  was  an  intense  mortification  to  set 
up  housekeeping  in  apartments.  She  found  that  Mr. 
Garland  had  counted  largely  on  her  fortune.  There  was 
this  and  that  investment,  sure  to  double  it,  large  divi 
dends  of  such  a  stock,  heavy  interest  for  some  wonder 
ful  bonds  ;  while  seven  per  cont  was  mere  bagatelle. 

But  she  was  not  deficient  in  courage  and  practical 
ability ;  and  she  saw  that  she  must  make  a  resolute  stand 
for  herself.  Mr.  Garland  was  not  Dr.  Kinnard.  True, 
he  never  would  have  been  so  foolish  as  to  marry  a  for 
tuneless  3'oung  girl.  Her  sharp  temper  helped  her,  too, 
to  gain  an  ascendancy  in  marital  affairs,  and,  perhaps, 
was  none  the  worse  for  her  husband,  though  it  did  gall 
and  fret  him. 

"  If  }-ou  are  agreed,"  she  announced  rather  coldly  one 
day,  "  I  will  take  up  the  two  mortgages  on  the  house.  I 
desire  lo  keep  the  whole  of  it  in  the  spring.  But  I  do 

25 


290  NELLY  KTNNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

this  with  the  express  stipulation  that  you  shall  not 
endeavor  to  sell  the  property.  For  the  remainder  of  my 
money,  I  think  it  safer  in  government  bonds." 

After  some  discussion,  he  was  forced  to  assent,  as  the 
first  mortgage  was  soon  to  fall  due. 

It  was  not  convenient  to  have  Maud  at  her  Christmas 
holidays ;  neither  did  the  }'oung  lady  desire  to  return 
home  :  so  she  was  left  to  follow  her  own  devices. 

Nelly  felt  quite  free,  therefore,  to  keep  the  feast  with 
her  own  kin. 

"  By  all  means,"  said  grandmother  in  a  cordially 
consenting  tone.  "Bertie  and  I  will  have  a  nice  time 
together." 

Bertie  looked  wistfully  at  mamma. 

"You  will  be  sure  to  come  home  the  next  day?"  he 
begged  beseechingly." 

"Oh!  quite  sure." 

Mrs.  Mallory  and  Eugene  were  the  only  other  guests. 
Mr.  Mallory  was  to  go  South  immediately  afterward  to 
settle  some  business,  and  dispose  of  an  estate  for  his 
mother.  She  insisted  upon  Bessie  sharing  her  solitude;  ; 
and  the  child  was  nothing  loth.  Indeed,  she  yielded 
quite  enchantingly  to  the  sweet  old  lady's  fascinations. 

But  it  was  not  to  be  all  prosperity  and  jo}'.  They  had 
found  many  precious  ways  in  their  journej'ings,  hitherto, 
like  a  sweet  story  told  on  a  summer  afternoon  beside  a 
rippling  brook,  with  widespread  trees  overhead,  and 
through  them  shining  the  wonderful  blue,  God's  care  and 
keeping.  Yet  there  had  been  no  marvellous  good  for 
tune,  —  the  middle  way,  the  path  between,  seeing  both 
sides,  yet  not  absolutely  touching  either.  Bessie  might 
go  to  grandeur  ;  it  seemed  fairly  promised  ;  but,  with  the 
others,  it  had  been  the  more  moderate  kind,  in  which  the 
gifts  are  glorified  with  the  kindly  using. 

The  winter  proved  a  hard  one  in  business  circles.  The 
Endicotts  took  a  little  here  and  there  out  of  their  store 


NELLY  KENNARD'S  KINGDOM.  291 

of  comforts  for  the  poor  and  needy.  The  Churchills  were 
ready-handed  as  usual.  Dr.  Kinnard  sent  in  smaller 
bills  to  the  mill  people  and  those  working  on  short  time. 
Nelly  widened  her  charities  a  little. 

It  was  to  Rose  that  the  misfortune  came.  There  were 
heavy  business-losses,  failures  of  firms  in  different  parts 
of  the  country,  that  at  last  touched  Stephen  Duncan. 
Not  from  any  fault  or  negligence  of  his  own,  rather  from 
the  dishonesty  and  carelessness  of  others. 

Nelly  went  over  to  the  rectory  to  hear  more  particu 
larly. 

"  It  is  very  disastrous,  I  believe,"  said  Mrs.  Endicott; 
"  but  poor  Rose  bears  it  bravel}r.  It  seems  as  nothing, 
compared  to  the  loss  of  her  child.  .  Winthrop  went  down 
to  see  if  he  could  assist  Stephen  in  any  way ;  but  he 
(Stephen)  decided  that  it  was  better  to  give  up  every 
thing,  and  begin  anew.  He  is  so  strictly  honest  and 
honorable.  There  were  two  other  partners,  you  know ; 
but  every  dollar  of  his  property  was  liable  for  the  debts 
of  the  whole.  He  bought  out  his  brother's  part  of  the 
house  some  time  ago,  you  may  remember.  It  was  his 
intention  to  settle  it  upon  Rose  ;  but  he  had  not  done  so 
as  yet,  which  seems  a  great  pity.  One  of  the  partners, 
Mr.  Lewes,  gave  his  wife  a  vdfy  valuable  house  last  sum 
mer,  it  appears,  and,  besides  that,  he  has  nothing.  I 
have  a  fancy  he  was  not  as  scrupulous  as  the  other  two, 
by  what  Winthrop  said." 

"  But  to  give  up  her  beputiful  home !  "  cried  Nelly. 

"O  mamma!  do  }'ou  remember  how  we  all  went  to 
welcome  her  there  when  she  returned  from  her'  bridal 
tour?  I  can't  think  of  Rose  in  any  other  place:  she 
wouldn't  take  root.  He  has  been  so  kind  and  generous 
to  his  brothers,  why  can  they  not  "  — 

"  Stuart  is  soon  to  be  married  to  a  Southern  heiress. 
He  had  some  money  in  the  hands  of  the  firm,  which  he 
drew  out  last  fall ;  and  Stephen  looks  upon  it  as  a  great 


292  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

relief  now.  Louis  does  lose  a  little  by  an  unfortunate 
investment  they  made  some  time  ago.  Winthrop  said  he 
was  veiy  kind  indeed." 

"And  yet  his  bo}-hood  seemed  so  much  less  promising 
than  Stuart's,"  said  Nelly  musingly. 

Mrs.  Endicott  smiled  in  her  beautiful  motherly  way. 

"There  was  something  else  planted  in  his  heart,  Nelly," 
she  made  answer  in  a  reverent  tone,"  —  something  above 
brilliancy,  or  worldly  wisdom,  or  the  pure  planning  for 
self.  And  now  he  has  it  in  his  power  to  pay  thsm  both 
back  a  little.  I  think  he  Avill.  I  can  trust  God  to  bring 
forth  his  fruit  in  the  right  season." 

"  If  we  could  do  any  thing  for  her  —  poor  Ross  !  " 

"  My  dear,  there  ma}"  bo  some  wisdom  in  it  that  we  do 
not  see  now.  I  think  Rose  has  grieved  a  good  deal,  in  a 
soft,  passive  manner.  She  did  not  ask  her  baby  back,  or 
question  God  in  any  daring  or  fretful  vfay ;  but  she  has 
remained  sore  at  heart.  It  was  as  if  she  kept  taking 
him  out  of  his  grave,  caressing  him  a  while  in  a  kind  of 
stolen  fashion,  then  putting  him  back,  —  a  sort  of  covet 
ing  sorrow,  after  all.  And  this  ma}'  rouse  her." 

"  Oil  if  Mrs.  Whitcomb  were  only  there  !  " 

"I  think  it  is  best  just  as  it  is.  Rose  Tvas  such  a 
clinging  little  body,  so  distrustful  of  herself,  so  ready 
to  yield,  almost  fearful  in  some  phases.  And  this  will 
bring  out  all  her  strength,  because  it  touches  her  love  for 
Stephen.  Next  week  I  shall  go  down  and  stay  a  while 
with  her,  and  see  what  is  to  be  done." 

Nelly  sits  in  the  old  low  rocker,  and  thinks  of  the  jo}*- 
ous  time,  three  3*ears  ago,  when  she  was  there,  choosing 
her  bride-clothes ;  and  they  were  all  so  ver}r,  very 
happy.  Rose's  path  had  gone  over  green  and  sunny 
meadows  for  a  long  distance  :  hers  had  seemed  to  start  by 
the  briery  wayside,  and,  later  on,  come  out  to  blossoms. 
Was  there  some  wiser  hand  portioning  it  day  by  da}r, 
like  the  bread  and  the  manna?  She  had  trusted  for  her 
self:  could  she  not,  then,  trust  for  Rose? 


KELLY  KINKAHD'S  KINGDOM. 

There  was  a  very  sweet  and  cordial  sympathy  given  on 
every  side.  A  fortnight  with  mamma  seemed  to  infuse 
new  blessedness  into  the  present  and  the  future.  True, 
Stephen  had  lost  all,  in  a  worldly  point  of  view ;  but 
ha  had  youth  and  health  and  energy,  and  had,  also, 
acquired  some  business  experience,  that  would  stand  him 
in  good  stead.  Friends  had  begun  to  rally  around  him ; 
and  later,  when  the  spring  fairly  opened,  a  new  business 
offer  was  made  him  by  a  house  that  had  stood  all  the 
storms  bravely,  and  had  watched  and  appreciated  his 
manliness  and  integrity. 

There  had  been  another  bit  of  rippling  sunshine 
through  it  all.  Bessie,  who  declared  she  was  a  princess 
living  in  an  enchanted  castle,  and  pretty,  bright  Mrs. 
Mallory,  —  they  would  have  Rose  and  Stephen  come  to 
little  suppers,  and  drive  in  the  park,  and  share  with  them 
the  brightness  of  a  wider  living.  Mrs.  Mallory  took  a 
warm  interest  in  Louis'  chapels  and  charity  projects, 
and  claimed  both  men  for  an  evening's  escort  now  and 
then,  since  there  was  no  Eugene  at  hand. 

"  My  dear,"  she  said,  after  she  had  been  studying 
Bessie  a  long  while  one  day,  "  to  have  rounded  out  the 
romance,  I  think  Louis  should  have  married  your  sister 
Dais}-,  though  there  is  time  enough  yet.  But  I  am  glad 
his  heart  was  not  unalterably  fixed  upon  you  ;  for  Eugene 
confessed  to  me  that  he  fell  in  love  with  you  at  first  sight ; 
and  it  would  have  broken  my  heart  to  see  him  crossed  in 
his  wishes." 

Bessie  throws  herself  on  a  footstool,  and  leans  on  Mrs. 
Mallory's  lap,  kissing  the  dimpled  hands  in  girlish  fervor. 

"  I  wonder,"  she  saj-s  slowly,  "  if  you  could  not  have 
loved  some  other  girl." 

"But,  you  see,  he  did  not  love  any  other  girl.     No. 
Bessie,  I  felt  just  as  he  did :  I  wanted  you." 
*25 


CHAPTER  XX. 

"  Love  that  asketh  love  again 
Finds  the  barter  nought  but  pain : 
Love  that  giveth  in  full  store 
Aye  receives  as  much  arid  more." 

IT  was  early  June.  All  was  bloom  and  beaut}'  again. 
The  breath  of  the  woods,  the  meadows,  the  gardens,  the 
winding  rivers  and  still  ponds  ;  the  flutter  of  birds  travers 
ing  the  dreamy  air  that  reflected  all  of  heaven's  own  blue, 
coming  nearer  and  nearer  with  brooding  love  ;  the  whir 
of  bees  about  their  daily  business  ;  the  hums  ;  the  rippling 
among  the  leaves ;  the  rustlings  in  the  grass ;  joined  in 
giving  a  sense  of  wide,  sweet  abundant  life  everywhere. 

Something  more  than  that  beautiful  out-of-doors.  Dr. 
Kinnard  stopped  and  took  great  whiffs  of  it,  as  if  he  had 
never  half  enjoyed  it  before,  never  half  given  thanks 
before.  He  glanced  around  on  the  loveliness :  he  listened 
to  a  distant  warble  in  a  chestnut-thicket.  He  wanted  to 
utter  some  sort  of  psalm,  just  as  he  had  heard  the  words 
go  up  with  glorious  organ-tones  ;  but  he  could  only  think 
of  the  one  strain,  "  My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord." 
It  was  in  heart  and  brain  ;  but  his  lips  trembled  when  IIG 
tried  to  shape  them  to  any  words  ;  and  so  he  just  walked 
up  and  down  the  wide  porch  where  the  first  roses  were  in 
bloom,  his  head  bared  to  the  morning  sunshine,  and  bent 
in  a  strange  awe,  —  a  reverence  such  as  he  had  never 
experienced  in  all  his  eight  and  thirty  j-ears. 

There  was  a  strange,  glorified  stillness  all  through  the 
house.  Voices  were  lowered  to  a  kind  of  hushed  yet 

294 


NELLY  KLNNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  295 

welcoming  sweetness  ;  and  steps  were  light,  with  the  sort 
of  hopeful  confidence  when  one  fears  a  little,  and  desires 
to  believe  much. 

Up  stairs,  in  the  room  where  he  had  brought  her  first  as 
a  bride,  —  the  room  whose  scant  and  chilly  furnishing  had 
appalled  her,  and  which  they  two  had  adorned  in  an 
eager,  almost  childish  fashion,  she  lay  now.  Sunny  flecks 
and  sparkles  stole  in  every  crevice  of  the  closed  blinds, 
flickering  about  the  ceiling,  hovering  over  the  bed,  as  if  to 
crown  her  anew  with  her  joy  of  motherhood. 

His  child  !  His  little  daughter  !  There  had  been  other 
children  to  Dr.  Kinnard,  but  none  that  had  brought  the 
grace  of  this.  The  others  had  seemed  pure  natural  gifts  : 
this  one  he  had  longed  for,  pra3-ed  for,  desired  with  all 
the  strength  and  passion  of  a  man's  strong  soul.  And 
he  had  them  both.  Ah,  no  wonder  the  day  was  glorious, 
and  full  of  sunny  lights  and  shadows,  full  of  fragrance 
and  rare  loveliness.  It  never  could  have  been  any  other 
time  than  June. 

Presently  he  went  into  the  office.  Here  in  a  slender 
vase  were  three  roses  she  had  gathered  j-esterday.  Two 
had  blown  out  full :  one  was  still  in  bud.  He  took  them 
out  softly,  wiped  the  wet  stems  with  careful  fingers,  and 
rolled  them  in  a  bit  of  tissue-paper.  They  would  always 
have  a  strange  sacredness  to  him. 

"  I  know  why  I'm  glad  it  is  a  girl,"  said  Bertie  that 
evening,  with  a  confident  nod  of  the  head. 

"Why?"  asked  Dr.  Kinnard,  with  a  sense  of  amuse 
ment. 

"Because  3-011  see,  papa,"  with  great  earnestness, 
"  3"ou  can  love  it  ever  so  much  ;  and  it  won't  be  a  bit  in 
my  wn3'.  But,  if  it  was  a  bo3T,  3'ou  might  not  love  me  as 
well ;  would  you  ? ' ' 

"And  3~ou  care  so  much  for  my  love,  do  3Tou,  Bertie, 
nrf  son  ?  ' ' 

There  was  a  peculiar  softness  in  the  father's  brown 


296  KELLY  KLNNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

eyes.     Mary  Grove's  child  had  never  been  dearer  to  him 
than  at  that  moment. 

"  O  papa !  "  drawing  closer,  and  putting  his  small  arms 
over  the  broad  shoulders,  and  giving  one  long,  deep 
inspiration. 

"Bertie,  there  can  nothing  destroy  my  love  for  3-011, 
and  only  some  great  sin  on  your  part  take  away  the  pride 
I  hope  always  to  have  in  3'ou." 

"  And  she  will  be  my  mother  just  the  same?  " 

Ah,  could  he  answer  for  her,  now  that  she  had  her  own  ? 
Yes  :  he  would. 

"  Just  the  same,  Bertie,  with  God's  help  and  grace." 

There  was  a  little  silence  ;  then  he  said  softly,  "  Could 
I  go  up  and  kiss  her,  do  j-ou  think?  " 

"  Yes  :  let  us  both  go." 

Later,  when  she  was  beginning  to  sit  up  in  pretty  white 
frilled  wrappers,  Dr.  Kinnard  repeated  the  incident  to  his 
wife. 

"  It  will  not  do  to  be  too  glad.  Suppose  there  should 
be  seven?  "  And  an  amused  light  shone  in  her  03-03. 

There  was  a  droll  little  gesture,  a  happy  smile. 

' '  I  fancy  Bertie  and  I  will  be  able  to  welcome  them 
all." 

But  she  thought  of  the  child's  words  as  she  sat  in  the 
blessed  summer  silence,  with  her  biiby  lying  across  her 
lap, — that  mysterious  bundle  of  soft  flannel,  fine  lawn, 
and  daint3r  embroideiy  ;  those  doubled-up,  and  then  out 
stretched  tiny  hands,  the  little  picture-face,  with  dimpled 
chin,  and  mouth  like  a  rosebud,  whose  wandering  eyes 
opened  and  shut  with  that  sense  of  infinite  psncc,  and 
supreme  indifference  to  the  great  world,  as  if  it,  indeed, 
was  the  greatest  thing  in  the  world.  Would  she  never  be 
jealous  with  a  mother's  engrossing,  absorbing  love? 
Would  she  never  seek  for  the  best  places,  the  whole  of 
papa's  knee,  his  interest, .his  affection?  It  had  fallen  out 
so  with  other  very  good  vroineu. 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  297 

Ah,  to  narrow  her  kingdom,  and  shut  others  out!  As 
if  lovo  could  be  made  better  and  finer  b}T  compressing  it 
into  one  or  two  human  hearts,  instead  of  following  the 
pattern  He  sot,  who  so  loved  the  world,  the  whole  world, 
who  bid  the  children  first  of  all  in  to  the  feast. 

She  uttered  a  little  praj'er,  that  God  would  keep  her. 
Then  she  took  in  all  the  pleasantness  of  the  day,  of  the 

j°y- 

"  We  will  stay  at  home  this  summer,"  she  said  to  her 
husband.  "We  will  have  a  glad,  delightful  time  with 
mother  and  the  girls." 

Ever}-body  came  in  to  see  Dr.  Kinnard's  bab3r.  In  the 
first  year  it  would  have  been  no  great  marvel :  now  it  had 
the  grace  and  rarity  of  a  blessing  withheld  a  while. 

It  was  a  fine,  pleasant-natured  little  thing,  though  not 
dowered  with  the  brilliant  beauty  of  Rose's  lost  treasure. 
It  was  healthy,  bright,  and  content.  No  nights  spent  in 
a  crowded  ball-room,  no  fashionably  false  dressing,  no 
ruinous  indulgence  in  heats  and  passionate  tempers,  or 
restless  whims,  had  borne  the  due  fruit  of  nervous  fretful- 
ness.  It  slept,  it  ate,  and  grew,  and  was  lazily  happj*. 

"I  never  did  see  such  a  good  baby!"  grandmother 
would  say  hourly.  "  It  has  Barton's  eyes,  and,  somehow, 
the  rest  of  it  looks  like  your  sister  Daisy.  I  never 
fancied  Barton  was  very  fond  of  babies  before ;  but  no 
one  could  help  loving  this  child." 

The  doctor  brought  Daisy  over  one  morning,  partly 
because  Mrs.  Nurse  had  been  compelled  to  leave  rather 
soon,  and  partly  because  he  wanted  her.  Bessie  was  now 
so  engrossed  with  her  lover  and  her  bright,  piquant 
mother-in-law  elect.  The  marriage  had  been  set  down 
for  the  middle  of  August ;  and  the  bridal  tour  was  to  be 
Europe,  —  all  of  it. 

One  da}-  Mrs.  Glyndon  came  ftying  in.  She  did  not 
seem  to  change,  or  grow  older,  or  tire  of  her  constant 
variety  and  journeyings.  Now  she  was  going  to  Colo- 


298  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

rado  with  her  husband,  and  would  see  all  the  wonders  of 
the  West  before  she  returned. 

Nelly  smiled  with  generous  delight. 

"  O  Mrs.  Kinnard !  "  with  a  sudden  accession  of  vigor 
in  her  tone.  "  You  remember  Van  Alst}'ne,  our  hero  of 
Severn  Point  ?  I  met  them  when  I  was  in  New  York  — • 
everybody  says  '  them,'  now,"  laughing,  and  raising  her 
eyebrows. 

"  Yes.  We  saw  Mrs.  Sherrard  at  the  White  Moun 
tains." 

"  I  am  dreadfully  disappointed  in  that  handsome 
fellow.  Mr.  Glyndon  insists  that  my  heroes  always  come 
to  grief.  He  had  some  fine  capabilities.  He  was  so  cul 
tivated  and  gentlemanly,  that  I  do  not  see  how  he  could 
choose  such  a  woman." 

"  Perhaps  she  chose  him,"  said  Nelly  mirthfully. 

"So  report  says.  There  is  a  tint  of  scandal  about 
her.  She  was  divorced,  and  this  large  fortune  was  left 
her  by  some  old  man,  while  she  was  in  Europe  ;  but  quite 
a  doubt  is  thrown  upon  the  relationship  of  uncle.  He 
was  so  fastidious  too ;  and  she  is  undeniably  loud.  She 
drives  a  pair  of  fast  ba}-s  in  the  Park,  takes  up  any  of 
her  gentleman  friends,  and  acts  quite  as  if  she  were  a 
widow  still.  It  is  said  there  was  a  little  difficulty  at  first ; 
but  she  insisted  upon  her  '  train  ; '  and  she  is  just  the  sort 
of  woman  to  carry  matters  with  a  high  hand.  And  he 
flirts  notoriously.  Why  in  the  world  did  they  many  ?  I 
think  «uch  husbands  and  wives  are  a  positive  injury  to 
society." 

Nelly  thought  of  his  theories  of  soul  growth  and  devel 
opment,  of  companionship,  and  all  the  dangerous  rest 
lessness. 

' '  I  am  very  sorry  for  one  thing.  You  remember  Elsie 
Graham?  I  thought  her  such  a  nice  girl;  and  so  she 
was.  But  I  believe  some  entanglement  began  at  Severn 
Point :  at  least,  she  must  have  fallen  in  love  with  him, 


NELLY  KLNNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  299 

and  they  have  been  foolish  enough  to  keep  it  up.  She 
has  refused  two  good  offers  of  marriage  since,  and  her 
mother  is  much  distressed  about  her.  They  go  out 
together,  and  she  makes  no  secret  of  her  preference ; 
rather  prides  herself  on  her  constancy.  Where  will  it 
end?  I  do  pity  Mrs.  Graham.  Why  can't  Elsie  have 
the  sense  to  look  at  it  with  the  world's  eyes  ?  Here  she  is, 
wasting  all  her  sweet  young  life  in  a  feverish  dream,  —  a 
reprehensible  passion  for  a  married  man,  as  there  isn't 
the  least  danger  of  Mrs.  Van  Alstyne  ever  dying." 

"It  is  extremely  sad,"  returned  Nelly,  glancing  fur 
tively  at  her  sister. 

"  And  positively  wicked.  These  things  lower  the  tone 
of  society  so  much  when  both  parties  are  tolerably  well 
off,  and  in  good  standing.  No  one  seems  quite  brave 
enough  to  sa}r,  '  You  shall  not  bring  your  pernicious  doc 
trines  or  shameful  friendships  in  here.'  If  the  Grahams 
were  poor,  Elsie  would  lose  caste  at  once.  What  a  dif 
ference  a  little  money  makes  !  " 

Daisy  Endicott  sat  there,  thinking,  after  the  two  wo 
men  went  out  on  the  porch.  There  had  been  a  time 
when  she  was  almost  ready  to  vow  eternal  constancy  to  a 
dream,  a  memory  ;  when  she  felt  that  she  would  be  pro 
faned  by  any  new  kiss  or  caress.  Suppose  she  had  been 
his  wife  even,  and  he  had  insisted  upon  keeping  up  the 
friendship  with  Miss  Graham,  making  new  friendships 
with  other  women.  Nay,  while  he  seemed  to  be  so  drawn 
to  her,  perhaps  he  was  giving  the  same  glances,  smiles, 
and  meaning  pressure  of  the  hand,  to  others. 

She  raised  her  head  with  an  almost  haughty  grace,  and 
looked  the  pure,  open,  honest  day  in  the  face.  She  even 
laughed  lightly,  proudly.  Nothing  of  the  old  fancy 
remained  :  she  did  not  long  now  to  give  it  sepulture.  The 
sweet,  strong,  true  duties  of  life  had  crowded  it  out. 
She  had  come  to  a  correct  estimate  of  the  man, — bril 
liant,  fascinating,  witty,  and  tender,  with  that  hollow, 


300  NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

selfish  tenderness  of  sensuous  enjoyment  and  absorption. 
There  was  no  respect  or  esteem  for  foundation-stones ; 
and  her  regard  had  perished  slow]}-,  inasmuch  as  her 
faith  had  at  first  refused  to  receive  the  shock,  but  very, 
very  surety.  His  name  did  not  even  call  up  a  wander 
ing  thrill.  She  had  been  deceived,  because,  in  her  utter 
innocence  of  the  world  and  its  wiles,  she  could  not 
believe  any  man  would  be  so  basely,  so  cowardly,  treach 
erous  ;  and,  having  come  to  understand,  there  was  no 
more  temptation  for  her.  If  he  were  to  appear  before 
her  now,  in  entire  freedom,  though  her  senses  might  be 
pleased  with  his  handsome  face,  and  musical,  finely 
modulated  voice,  her  soul  would  shrink  with  something 
akin  to  disgust,  that  he  could  so  put  on  the  semblance 
of  nobleness. 

"  How  bright  and  happy  you.  look,  my  darling ! "  Nelly 
said,  kissing  her  as  she  re-entered  the  room,  in  a  little 
trepidation,  it  must  be  confessed. 

Dais}-  smiled  cheerily.  "  Why  should  I  not  be  happ}-?  " 
she  asked. 

"  True,"  in  a  rather  grave,  wondering  fashion. 

There  was  a  sudden  impulse  in  Daisy's  soul  to  tell  her 
bit  of  experience  ;  but,  after  all,  why  should  she  even  give 
it  that  stamp  of  consequence  ?  It  was  like  last  year's  way 
side  flower,  that  she  had  plucked,  and  carried  in  her  hand 
until  it  withered.  It  would  be  false  and  morbid  senti 
ment  to  place  it  in  prominence  beside  the  roses  of  to-da}*. 

Dr.  -Kinnard  went  to  Melrose  Hall,  a*d  brought  Maud 
home.  He  had  visited  her  twice  in  the  meanwhile.  She 
was  nearing  fifteen  now,  quite  tall,  and  not  as  thin  as  for 
merly,  but  with  much  of  the  olden  precision,  that  would 
always  militate  against  grace.  She  had  not  made  her 
self  quite  the  object  of  envy  at  school  that  she  bad 
desired.  There  were  richer  girls,  and  young  ladies  of 
higher  social  position,  that  she  could  not  hope  to  extin- 


NELLY  KESTNAED'S  KINGDOM.  301 

guish :  even  her  vaunted  scholarship  had  hard  work  to 
hold  its  own.  She  had  rendered  herself  conspicuous  by 
over-dressing  at  first,  and  been  ver}T  properly  rebuked  for 
it ;  and  her  arrogance  had  drawn  out  a  flow  of  schoolgirl 
satire.  The  path  had  not  been  one  of  roses. 

She  was  doomed  to  another  disappointment.  Aunt 
Adelaide  had  planned,  long  before,  to  have  her  spend  the 
vacation  with  her.  Mr.  Garland  had  not  proved  the 
most  tractable  of  husbands,  however.  The  adverse  win 
ter  had  shorn  him  of  much  of  his  fictitious  wealth.  To 
save  herself,  Mrs.  Garland  had  been  compelled  to  pur 
chase  the  house.  It  was  larger  than  the}*  could  afford  to 
maintain  :  so  she  lowered  her  pride  sufficiently  to  take  a 
gentleman  and  his  wife  to  board.  This  was  a  success  in 
another  way,  as  it  served  to  keep  Mr.  Garland  at  the 
highest  point  of  good  manners  continually.  She  had 
spoken  of  Maud's  coming. 

"I  think  it  is  hardly  worth  while  for  you  to  burthen 
3*ourself  with  her,"  said  Mr.  Garland  pompously,  "  unless 
her  father  is  willing  to  pay  her  board.  If  I  were  in  good 
circumstances,  I  would  be  happy  to  entertain  all  your 
relations  ;  but,  as  matters  stand  at  present ' '  — 

"  I  have  only  one  relative  whom  I  shall  be  likely  to 
ask,"  she  returned  with  haughty  dignity.  "  I  can  afford 
to  make  the  allowance  of  her  board  nrysclf." 

"  Oh!  very  well,  very  well,"  with  a  great  clearing  of 
his  throat,  and  an  impatient  rubbing  of  his  hands. 

He  had  been  deeply  disappointed  in  having  no  chance 
to  handle  his  wife's  money,  and  in  finding  that  he  could 
not  impress  her  with  his  importance  as  easily  as  the  first 
Mrs.  Garland,  who  had  actually  trembled  at  his  frown. 
Still  it  gave  considerable  weight  to  talk  about  "  my  wife's 
money." 

On  her  part,  there  was  a  feeling  of  smothered  but 
almost  vengeful  anger.  She  had  been  over-reached  by 
her  own  carelessness.  She  had  asked  no  counsel,  made 

26 


302  NELLY  KINNAHD'S  KINGDOM. 

but  few  inquiries,  and  thought  mostly  of  the  triumph  over 
her  brother-in-law.  If  it  had  all  been  as  she  expected ; 
if  she  could  have  patronized  and  thrown  into  the  shade  ; 
if  she  could  have  given  Maud  an  entree  into  grandeur 
and  society :  but  there  was  nothing  of  importance  in  this 
rather  commonplace  life.  She  was  a  much  greater  lady 
at  Edgerly,  with  her  pony  phaeton.  The  money  in  the 
house  served  to  decrease  her  income,  which  was  now 
barely  enough  for  her  personal  expenses.  She  was  Mrs, 
Garland,  of  course  ;  and  she  observed,  with  a  kind  of  bit 
ter  contempt,  that  the  world  paid  homage  to  the  magical 
"Mrs.,"  even  if  the  husband  was  a  nonentity.  She  had 
no  love  to  reconcile  her  to  her  keen  disappointment,  no 
little  touches  of  romance,  that,  after  all,  serve  to  gild 
prosaic  life  wonderfully. 

There  could  be  no  tour  for  herself  and  Maud  this  sum 
mer.  Her  boarders  had  gone  to  the  seaside,  and  the  house 
was  undeniably  dull ;  but  she  asked  Maud  for  a  few  weeks. 

Nelly  gave  the  young  girl  a  cordial  welcome.  Maud 
just  touched  her  lips  to  her  stepmother's.  She  had  never 
given  her  one  hearty  kiss  :  such  effusiveness,  in  her  opin 
ion,  was  not  only  underbred,  but  sill}*.  She  glanced  at  the 
new  baby,  and  supposed  it  was  a  great  care  ;  did  not  see 
what  there  was  in  babies  to  rouse  any  one's  enthusiasm, 
and  had  never  cared  for  them. 

Her  room  was  in  perfect  order.  Nell}7  had  ventured 
upon  a  trifle  of  re-arrangement  to  take  off  the  stiifness. 
The  parlor  was  opened  invitingly. 

"  "We  must  be  very  good  and  patient  with  her,  Barton," 
Nelly  said  with  a  pleading  look  in  her  eyes.  "  She  will 
miss  Aunt  Adelaide  so  much  ! ' ' 

"  Do  you  know,  Nell,  I  feel  as  if  I  should  like  to  shake 
her  until  all  the  nonsense  and  primness  came  out  of  her, 
and  the  insufferable  air  that  borders  on  insolence  ?  She 
shall  pay  you  outward  respect,  at  least ;  "  and  the  doctor's 
face  flushed,  while  his  tone  was  most  decisive. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  303 

"  O  my  darling!  don't  do  or  say  any  thing  cross,  fot 
my  sake  ; ' '  and  her  arms  were  around  his  neck. 

"  Nelly,  3'ou  twist  me  around  your  finger,  just  as  Jane, 
wise  woman,  said  you  did ; "  yet  he  looked  as  if  the  pro 
cess  was  not  altogether  uncomfortable. 

"  We  have  so  much  happiness  and  joy  !  "  in  a  tremu 
lous  tone,  and  with  dewy  eyes. 

"  And  we  do  not  deprive  her  of  any ;  but,  somehow — 
My  darling,  3*ou  taught  me  to  love  Bertie,  teach  me 
to  love  Maud." 

"  I  will  do  ray  best,  God  helping  me." 

So  the  doctor  asked  Maud  to  drive  with  him,  and  tried, 
in  various  ways,  to  interest  her.  She  was  cold.and  super 
cilious,  but  quite  rigid  on  what  she  considered  her  own 
rights. 

"  I  must  have  some  new  clothes,"  she  announced  a 
few  daj-s  after  her  return. 

Dr.  Kinnard  looked  helplessly  at  his  wife. 

"  I  wonder  if  you  would  not  rather  shop  in  New  York 
with  3'our  aunt  ? ' '  inquired  Nelby  graciously. 

Maud  stared.  "  I  suppose  it  would  be  as  well.  There 
is  no  one  here  to  attend  to  any  thing." 

A  quick,  offended  light  blazed  in  Dr.  Kinnard's  eyes. 

"  I  should  be  very  glad  to  do  any  thing  for  you,  Maud, 
where  you  like  to  trust  me/'  said  Nelly  in  the  kindliest 
of  tones,  glancing  up  imploringly. 

"  I  will  not  trouble  you." 

It  seemed  as  if  the  father  must  resent  the  impertinence. 
Nel^y  quickly  interposed. 

"  Maud,"  she  replied, —  and  her  voice  trembled  with  the 
effort,  though  it  was  clearly  sweet,  — ' '  you  must  remem 
ber  that  I  stand  in  a  mother's  place  to  you,  and  that  no 
duty  is  a  trouble,  but  a  pleasure  instead.  Neither  am  I 
so  ignorant  of  the  needs  and  desires  of  young  girls :  I 
have  had  my  own  younger  sisters  »for  companions.  You 
will  miss  Aunt  Adelaide  greatly ;  but  I  want  you  to  be- 


304  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

lieve,  even  if  \ou  cannot  give  me  a  daughter's  affection, 
that  I  do  at  least  desire  a  friend's  place  in  }-our  esteem. 
I  shall  try  to  be  every  thing  to  you  that  you  will  allow." 

Maud  sat  in  silence  ;  and  the  storm  was  sta}'ed.  Never 
had  Dr.  Kinnard  honored  his  wife  more  than  at  that 
moment  of  beautiful  womanly  dignity,  softened  by  the 
noblest  part  of  charity,  — love  in  a  brave  action,  denying 
the  baser  portion  of  self  its  importance. 

Dr.  Kinnard  gave  his  daughter  a  hundred  dollars,  and 
saw  her  safely  seated  in  the  car,  having  telegraphed  to 
her  aunt  to  meet  her  at  her  journey's  end. 

"  I  daresay  she  will  think  me  stingy.  I  have  been 
considering  this  matter,  my  dear  wife ;  and  I  want  3*our 
counsel.  I  am  not  a  rich  man,  and,  doubtless,  never  shall 
be.  What  do  you  think  of  my  setting  aside  a  certain 
portion  for  Maud,  and  not  allowing  her  to  overstep  the 
boundary?  It  would  be  no  more  than  simple  justice  to 
the  others."  And  he  glanced  up  with  a  perplexed  air. 

"  Why,  yes.     I  think  that  would  be  right." 

"  Her  tuition  is  three  hundred  a  year.  Allowing  a 
hundred  for  travelling  and  incidental  expenses,  and  two 
hundred  for  clothes,  would  make  six  hundred.  It  is  all 
I  can  afford  to  spend  upon  her.  There  is  Bertie  to  be 
educated  as  well.". 

"  That  seems  to  be  a  just  division,"  returned  Nelly 
frankly.  "  And  we  girls  hardly  had  a  hundred  a  year  to 
spend  on  our  clothes  until  we  were  married.  We  didn't 
look  beggarty,  either,"  and  she  gave  a  rarely  humorous 
smile.  "I  think  Aunt- Adelaide  has  been  very  injudi 
cious  in  Maud's  attire.  There  is  no  need  of  a  little  girl 
in  her  position  going  dressed  in  silks  and  the  finest  of 
lace.  But  I  suppose  we  cannot  make  any  great  reform 
at  present.  I  trust  somewhat  to  her  good  sense  as  she 
grows  older." 

"  If  that  will  not  satisfy  Aunt  Adelaide,  the  rest  must 
come  out  of  Maud's  own  money:  of  that  I  am  re 
solved." 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  305 

It  came  to  an  issue  sooner  than  they  expected.  Mrs. 
Garland  had  the  good  sense  to  see,  that,  at  present,  it 
would  not  be  wisdom  to  take  charge  of  Maud,  granting 
that  her  father  might  be  induced  to  consent.  She  could 
go  to  school  for  three  }*ears  ;  and,  after  that,  Aunt  Gar 
land  could  "bring  her  out."  By  that  time,  the  interest 
of  her  money  would  be  a  considerable  sum, —  enough  to 
support  her,  independent  of  her  father. 

' '  But  a  paltry  hundred  dollars  ! ' '  she  said  when  Maud 
stated  her  affairs.  "  You  want  a  nice  summer  silk  and  a 
winter  silk.  "We  will  do  our  best  with  them,  and  then 
write  to  your  father.  I  daresay  that  remarkable  baby  is 
swaddled  in  the  finest  of  linen  and  lace." 

Aunt  Adelaide  had  discovered  a  wonderful  dressmaker, 
—  a  poor  young  girl  with  charming  taste  and  deft  abilit}T, 
and  who  worked  for  a  dollar  a  day  and  her  board.  The 
two  dresses  were  skilfully  fashioned,  one  or  two  altered ; 
and  then  the  doctor  was  applied  to  for  more  means. 

He  explained  his  plan,  and  enclosed  a  check  for  fifty 
dollars.  There  would  be  but  fifty  more  to  last  her  until 
next  July.  He  particularly  desired  that  Aunt  Adelaide 
would  purchase  her  some  useful  school-dresses. 

"It  is  just  as  I  expected,  nry  dear  Maud,"  said  her 
aunt  angrily.  "  You  lost  your  best  friend  when  you  lost 
3'our  mother.  And,  if  your  father  had  treated  me  as  I 
should  have  bsen  treated,  I  do  not  think  I  should  ever 
have  left  you.  I  always  told  him  that  I  was  quite  read_y  to 
devote  rrry  whole  life  to  '  my  poor  dead  sister's  '  children. 
But  he  had  to  be  foolish  enough  to  many  that  ignorant 
3-oung  thing,  who  rules  him  completely,  and  who  grudges 
3-011  ever3'  dollar.  I  don't  know  how  3-ou  will  be  able  to 
endure  it." 

Maud  cried  a  little,  and  believed  herself  a  veiy  ill-used 
3'oung  woman  with  a  cruel  stepmother. 

But,  after  two  or  three  weeks,  she  decided  secretl3T,  that 
it  was  not  extravagantly  delightful  here.  There  were  no 

26* 


306  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

exhilarating  drives  in  the  Park,  no  stylish  callers  with 
gossip  of  opera  and  theatre.  The  shopping  was  soon 
clone  ;  and  she  did  not  know  any  girls  with  whom  she 
could  have  a  good  time.  She  began  to  feel  very  lone 
some,  and  wonder  whether  being  "  Dr.  Kinnard's  daugh 
ter"  was  not  more  enlivening.  Still  her  pride  would  not 
admit  of  her  going  home  before  the  last  moment. 

Mrs.  Garland  made  her  husband  take  them  to  Long 
Branch  for  a  day  .or  two.  Maud  looked  at  the  elegant 
dressing  and  showy  equipages  with  an  envious  eye.  Mr. 
Garland  was  no  longer  the  devoted  lover  of  a  rich 
woman,  but  a  commonplace,  selfish  husband,  with  a  strait 
ened  purse.  Maud's  quick  eye  drew  rather  unfavorable 
contrasts  between  him  and  her  father.  Altogether  the 
visit  was  not  as  productive  of  evil  as  it  might  have  been 
under  more  favorable  circumstances.  Aunt  Adelaide 
was  growing  fretful. 

At  home,  it  must  be  admitted,  they  felt  relieved.  Ber 
tie  was  developing  into  a  well-behaved,  chivalrous  boy, 
and  absolute!}'  improving  in  good  looks.  Grandmother 
was  a  little  childish  and  captious  at  times  ;  but  no  one  ran 
against  the  sharp  points  when  they  bristled  outwardly. 
Moreover,  she  was  coming  to  have  a  great  respect  for  the 
Endicott  girls.  To  think  that  Miss  Bessie,  without  a 
penny,  was  about  to  marry  into  a  rich  and  stylish  family, 
and  that  her  mother-in-law  elect  thought  the  ground  was 
hardly  good  enough  for  "  Queenic "  to  walk  on;  that 
she  should  be  taken  to  London  and  Paris  and  Rome, 
where  it  was  hardly  likely  Dr.  Kinnard's  wife  would  ever 
go ;  that  she  should  receive  this  wonderful  good-fortune 
in  such  a  simply  pretty  way,  without  being  at  all  "  puffed 
up  with  pride," — was  quite  a  marvel.  When  she  came 
over,  she  alwa3-s  would  dress  up  grandmother  in  carnation- 
pinks  and  heliotrope. 

"  I  am  too  old,"  Mrs.  Kinnard  would  say.  "Put 
them  in  your  own  shining  hair." 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  307 

"  One  is  never  too  old  to  be  made  pretty,"  she  would 
rejoin  in  her  rapid,  rippling  way,  that  reminded  yvu.  of 
nothing  so  much  as  a  swallow's  flight  in  the  sunshine. 

They  had  been  greatly  at  loss  in  choosing  a  name  for 
the  wonderful  baby.  Every  thing,  almost,  had  been  "tried 
on."  At  last,  they  settled  to  the  appellations  of  the  two 
grandmothers,  —  Frances  Annie.  It  was  to  be  christ 
ened  in  the  new  church ;  and  dear  old  papa  was  coming 
over  for  the  Sunday. 

"  Nelly,"  said  her  husband,  "  I  have  asked  Mr.  Dudley 
to  stand  for  baby.  I  think  he  was  very  much  pleased. 
I  don't  know  a  man  that  I  honor  and  esteem  higher  than 
Arthur  Dudley,  except  your  father  ;  "  and  he  smiled. 

"  Oh,  how  strange  !  I  don't  know"  —  in  a  wondering, 
hesitating  way.  "  But  it  can't  make  any  difference.  I 
asked  Daisy  this  morning.  We  have  grown  so  near  to 
gether  this  summer,  and  she  adores  baby.  Besides,  she  is 
a  good,  conscientious  girl." 

"  I  wish  it  could  make  a  difference  ;  "  and  there  was  a 
breathless  impatience  in  the  doctor's  tone.  "If  it  only 
would  !  Why  can't  they  see  how  they  are  fitted  for  one 
another?  She  is  the  only  '  clergyman's  wife '  that  your 
mother  has  raised ;  and  I  cannot  bear  to  see  her  miss  her 
vocation." 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

"  She  is  not  dead,  and  she  is  not  wed, 

And  she  loves  me  now,  and  she  loved  me  then : 
At  the  very  first  word  her  sweet  lips  said, 
My  heart  grew  youthful  again."  —  OWEX  MEREDITH. 

ARTHUR  DUDLEY,  after  the  fii-st  keenness  of  his  disap 
pointment,  had  thrown  himself,  heart  and  soul,  into  his 
church-work.  The  new  building  had  come  opportunely. 
It  contented  him  in  staying.  It  brought  him  into  active, 
friendly  interests  with  the  Kinnards  again.  He  understood 
now,  by  Daisy's  continued  avoidance  of  him,  that  her 
refusal  was  in  earnest ;  not  from  coquetry,  or  an}*  girlish 
ignorance,  or  even  momentary  offencs. 

He  saw  so  little  of  her  through  the  winter  !  During  the 
summer,  he  exchanged  with  Mr.  Duncan ;  and,  though 
warmly  pressed  to  stay  at  the  rectory,  he  had  declined 
courteously,  with  the  better  grace  because  he  had  prom 
ised  to  spend  the  time  with  a  friend.  He  and  Miss 
Endicott  had  been  pleasantly  polite  ;  but  the  old  cordiality 
•was  wanting. 

Then  the}*  had  gone  through  another  winter,  meeting  on 
rare  occasions.  Daisy  staid  so  little  at  Edgerly  now  ! 
It  was  not  until  the  birth  of  the  baby,  that  she  appeared 
to  resume  her  olden  place.  Then  she  rode  out  with  the 
doctor,  and  drove  Nelly  in  the  pony-carriage. 

One  day  Dr.  Kinnard  had  brought  her  to  inspect  the 
church.  The  general  depression  of  business  had  been 
rather  in  their  favor.  One  and  another,  while  out  of  em 
ployment,  had  given  the  labor  of  their  hands ;  and,  on 
303 


NELLY  KINNARD  S   KINGDOM. 

St.  James's  Day,  the  church  was  to  be  consecrated, 
though  the  tower  was  not  jet  completed,  and  msLny  little 
things  remained.  The  windows  had  been  put  in  (nearly 
all  of  them  gifts)  ;  and  the  wood-work  was  being  rapidly 
finished. 

The  main  part  was  designed  for  a  permanent  structure  ; 
but,  at  the  chancel  end,  a  temporary  room  had  been 
erected  to  serve  for.  the  Sunday  school  and  business- 
meetings  at  present,  and  until  the  church  should  need 
enlarging. 

o        o 

Daisy  and  the  doctor  were  rambling  about,  and  com 
menting.  There  was  much  to  praise,  and  very  little  to 
blame.  It  was  simple,  neat,  3ret  not  at  all  common. 

"  The  ladies  are  to  have  the  carpet  all  ready,"  said  the 
doctor.  "  The  chancel  furniture  is  to  be  a  gift  from 
Mrs.  Warner's  mother  ;  and  the  —  O  Dudley  !  " 

Dais}7  turned  with  a  quick  rift  of  color,  and  a  smile,  so 
like  the  Daisy  of  old  times,  that  he  held  out  his  hand  with 
a  sudden,  cordial  movement ;  and  in  that  clasp  they  seemed 
to  renew  their  friendship. 

"  Did  she  like  the  windows?  What  did  she  think  of 
the  color  of  the  wall?  They  were  to  have  some  illumi 
nated  emblems  in  the  chancel.  The  organ  was  to  stand 
here,  and  the  choir  just  within  reach.  He  liked  so  to  hear 
the  voices  ?  Would  she  be  likely  to  stay  —  or  to  come 
over  to  the  consecration?  " 

He  asked  that  hesitatingly,  and  stooped  to  pick  some 
thing  from  the  floor. 

"  We  are  going  to  keep  her  for  a  while,"  said  Dr. 
Kinnard.  "  Mrs.  Kinnard  and  the  baby  cannot  do  with 
out  her." 

' '  Have  j'ou  decided  upon  the  christening  ? ' ' 

"  Yes.  We  had  delayed  on  account  of  the  difficult}'  of 
finding  a  name  ;  "  and  the  doctor  laughed. 

A  few  days  after,  Daisy  had  gone  to  do  an  errand,  ex 
pecting  to  meet  the  doctor,  and  come  back  with  him ;  but, 


310  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

after  waiting  as  long  as  she  thought  prudent,  she  started 
to  walk  home.  Going  through  a  bit  of  rather  dusty 
woods,  to  make  the  way  shorter,  she  had  come  upon  Mr. 
Dudle}"  again. 

"  If  3'ou  have  no  especial  objection,  I  will  see  you 
home,"  he  said  in  a  tone  quite  free  from  hesitation, 
kind,  quiet,  but  no  more. 

"  Is  it  hardly  worth  while?  I  am  so  near  now  !  "  And 
she  made  a  wavering  pause. 

'•'  It  is  worth  while  if  it  does  not  displease  you." 

"  No  :   I  only  thought "  — 

They  were  both  silent  for  some  seconds.  Then  he 
began  to  ask  about  the  household.  Maud  had  come  home. 

"  I  am  very  glad  Miss  Grove  married,  and  went'awa^y. 
I  think  the  doctor  feels  more  free,  more  certainly  the 
master  of  his  own  house.  And  that  little  girl  has  been 
made  too  old  for  a  child." 

Thus  talking,  the}*  reached  the  wide-open,  hospitable 
gate,  with  its  great  urns  of  flowers  on  either  hand.  He 
turned  with  her.  A  wild,  strange  beat  fluttered  up  from 
her  heart. 

"  AVill  3'ou  come  in?     I  think  supper  must  be  ready." 

She  made  a  great  effort  to  say  this,  when  not  to  have 
done  it  would  have  been  ungracious. 

"Thank  you,  not  to-night,"  in  a  warm,  cheerful  tone. 
Then,  reaching  out,  he  took  her  hand. 

It  trembled  in  a  kind  of  frightened  manner,  but  was  not 
cold. 

He  knew  she  stood  there  a  few  seconds  ;  for  he  heard 
her  footfall  on  the  step.  She  was  not  distant  nor  of 
fended. 

He  walked  slowly  homeward,  studying  upon  the  ren 
counter.  He  had  never  put  himself  in  her  way :  he  had 
too  much  high-bred  delicacy  for  that.  But,  since  the 
episode  at  Severn  Point,  she  had  had  no  actual  lover  :  that 
he  knew  well.  "What  if,  after  all  these  months  —  But 
no.  He  would  not  dream  of  it. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  311 

"  My  wife's  sister  is  to  stand,"  Dr.  Kinnard  said,  when 
he  had  made  arrangements  for  the  service.  "  We  have 
kept  her  for  that." 

He  had  not  the  courage  to  call  her  "Daisy"  to  Mr. 
Dude's  face. 

"  We  want  you  to  come  to  tea.  No  one  else  will 
be  in." 

"  Very  well.     I  shall  be  happy  to." 

Nelty  had  mentioned  the  matter  with  unwonted  trepida 
tion,  ending  rather  meekly  with,  "  If  3*011  do  not  mind." 

"Mind!     Why  should  I?" 

Daisy  Endicott  meant  to  put  a  little  careless  surprise 
in  her  tone  ;  but  it  was  not  quite  that. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Endicott  came  over  for  the  Sunday.  A 
quiet,  solemn  service  it  was  ;  and  they  two  stood  strangely 
side  by  side,  never  once  glancing  at  each  other,  but  tr}T- 
ing  to  think  only  of  the  little  child,  yet  unconsciously 
taking  a  wider  range,  both,  perhaps,  understanding  what 
ttuyr  might  have  been  to  each  other. 

She  was  very  self-possessed  at  supper,  neither  coloring 
nor  trembling  when  any  incident  brought  them  nearer. 
In  truth,  she  wondered  at  herself. 

"It  is  because  he  has  forgotten  so  complete!}*, "  she 
thought.  "  He  has  forgotten,  and  it  is  better:  one  could 
not  remember  so  long  without  any  hope." 

On  the  Thursda}'  following  was  the  consecration.  One 
of  the  church-wardens  was  to  have  a  dinner  prepared  for 
the  clergy.  Mrs.  Newbury  had  arranged  to  give  them  a 
supper,  as  there  was  to  be  a  service  at  four.  And  if  Miss 
Endicott  would  only  come  over,  and  help  her  about  the 
entertaining ! 

"You  are  used  to  clergymen's  wants  and  ways,"  she 
said.  "  I  shall  feel  so  much  better  and  safer,  if  you  are 
there." 

So  Daisy  went,  and  made  herself  not  only  useful,  but 
agreeable.  The  girlish  timorousness  had  been  succeeded 


312  NELLY   KINNARD'S   KINGDOM. 

by  a  sweet  and  genial  gracious  ness,  that  forgets  all  about 
itself  in  rendering  others  at  ease,  and  then  learns  that 
this  is  happiness. 

Arthur  Dudley  watched  her.  Not  handsome  and  statel}-, 
like  Mrs.  Kinnard ;  not  with  that  dazzling  wild-bird  flutter 
and  lightness  of  Queen  Bess ;  but  a  womanly  serenity,  a 
sort  of  everyday  refinement  and  ease,  as  if  it  was  no  best 
garment  for  company, — -just  the  one  to  adorn  a  clergy 
man's  house,  ^3  friend  and  companion  for  all  time. 

The  brethren  sat  until  quite  in  the  evening.  Two  or 
three  were  to  take  trains :  two  were  to  be  Mr.  Dudley's 
guests,  and  were  sent  home  in  the  carriage.  And,  pres 
ently,  they  had  all  said  good-night,  save  one. 

"  Are  you  going,  Miss  Endicott?  I  want  to  walk  over 
to  Dr.  Kinnard' s." 

"  Oh,  yes  !  "  she  cried  eagerly ;  and  then  went  for  her 
hat. 

It  was  a  soft,  summer  night,  with  a  3'oung  moon  rising 
tremulously  over  the  tree-tops.  Somewhere  in  the  edge 
of  the  woods  a  whippoorwill  sang,  mingled  with  the  note 
of  a  late  homeward-going  thrush  —  or  was  she  croon 
ing  over  her  birdlings?  Arthur  Dudley  drew  her  hand 
through  his  arm  in  that  manly  fashion  of  appropriation 
that  somehow  takes  possession  of  a  woman  for  the  time. 
Once  she  stumbled  over  some  half-bare  tree-root  grow 
ing  across  the  path,  and  he  caught  her  quickly.  Both 
exclaimed  "Oh!"  with  a  little  laugh,  and,  recovering, 
walked  on.  It  broke  the  spell  of  silence  ;  and  they  went 
to  saying  amusing  trifles  to  one  another. 

Dr.  Kinnard  had  just  come  in.  He  would  drive  Mr. 
Dudley,  home,  and  they  would  have  their  talk  going 
along. 

"•  Good-night!  "  she  said,  in  a  sort  of  joyous,  ringing 
tone,  as  if  she  was  at  peace  with  every  bod}'. 

"  I  do  believe  she  is  still  to  be  won,"  Arthur  Dudley 
thought  to  himself.  "  Her  heart  has  never  been  touched." 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  313 

He  made  some  excuse  to  come  over  the  next  day.  No, 
she  had  not  changed,  but  was  frank  and  genial,  like  her 
olden  self.  He  would  be  wary,  now,  and  win  her  by  slow 
degrees. 

But  after  a  little  she  had  to  return  home.  Bess's 
wedding  was  at  hand,  —  gay,  enchanting  Queen  Bess, 
who  was  hardly  more  than  a  child. 

They  all  liked  Eugene  Mallory  so  much.  Yet  there 
was  an  awe  in  the  thought  of  Bessie  going  away  for 
years.  The  others  had  not  fluttered  so  far,  but  that,  now 
and  then,  they  could  look  into  the  old  home-nest. 

And  then  it  sounded  so  curious  to  hear  Mrs.  Mallory 
settle  what  she  was  to  have  by  saying,  "You  can  pur 
chase  such  a  thing  in  Paris  for  a  mere  trifle :  I  would 
not  bother  about  it.  I  would  not  waste  my  time  making 
dresses  :  }"ou  can  get  them  as  }T>u  want  them,  fresh,  with 
out  any  of  the  crumpling  of  packing.  I  would  not  have 
this  or  that,''  until  she  narrowed  the  trousseau  to  the 
smallest  dimensions.  AVas  it  her  delicate  way  of  not 
taking  much  for  Bessie  now,  when  she  was  to  have  such 
an  abundance  afterwards? 

So  she  went  to  church  in  simple  white,  one  morning, 
and  came  back  Mrs.  Mallory.  There  was  a  church  full  to 
be  sure ;  but  they  did  not  see  any  blaze  of  diamonds, 
or  shimmer  of  pearls.  There  were  some  real  orange- 
flowers  in  her  hair,  and  a  cluster  on  her  bosom ;  but  she 
looked  sweet  and  stately,  as  if  she  had  come  back  to  her 
child's  name,  and  was  a  pure  white  lily. 

They  had  cake  and  wine  and  kisses.  Mrs.  Mallory  was 
so  dazzling  in  her  old-lady  brightness,  that  no  one  could 
be  sad  ;  and  she  talked  about  the  steamer,  and  the  voyage, 
and  the  time  of  reaching  Liverpool,  with  as  much  noncha 
lance  as  if  she  had  said  a  palace-car  and  Niagara.  They 
were  to  spend  a  day  or  two  in  New  York.  The  Duncans 
went  back  with  them  in  the  afternoon. 

"  I  cannot  believe  it,  mother,"  Mr.  Endicott  said  as  he 
27 


31-4  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

sat  in  his  quiet  study  after  supper.  "  Only  the  other  clay, 
she  was  a  wild  little  thing.  Don't  3*011  remember  how 
she  used  to  swing  round,  holding  on  my  arm,  and  scam 
per  off  like  a  kitten?  Let  me  see,  how  did  it  all  begin? 
Stephen  Duncan  came  here  first,  and  asked  me  to  take  his 
brothers  ;  and  then  —  and  then  —  Mother,  arc  we  grow 
ing  old?  It  is  so  strange  to  have  all  these  married  daugh 
ters  and  their  husbands  !  It's  a  queer  sort  of  addition, 
that,  after  all,  leaves  you  but  veiy  little,  I  think  :  "  and  he 
paused  to  wipe  his  eyes  with  his  white  silk  handkerchief. 
Mrs.  Mallory  had  brought  him  a  dozen,  the  best  that 
could  be  found. 

Mrs.  Endicott  came  around,  and  kissed  him. 

"How  fortunate  tnat  Edith  was  born!  "  with  a  rift 
of  simple  gladness.  "For,  you  see,  there  will  be  many 
years  before  she  is  grown." 

The  next  thing  for  Nelly  Kinnard  was  her  step-daugh 
ter's  return,  a  week  or  so  before  school  began.  Maud 
would  not  have  confessed  it  to  a  living  soul ;  but  she  was 
really  thankful  to  get  away  from  Aunt  Garland's  dull 
house.  Her  hitherto  narrow  life  and  experience  had 
widened  somewhat ;  while  Aunt  Adelaide,  fretted  and 
soured,  drew  closer  within  her  shell,  and  was  correspond 
ingly  bitter,  though  she  tried  to  assume  a  demeanor  of 
lofty  indifference.  There  were  still  many  things  in  life 
that  she  could  have  made  the  best  of,  if  it  had  been  her 
nature  to  make  the  best  of  incongruous  materials,  to  pick 
out  bits  of  comfort  and  brightness  among  every-day  inci 
dents  ;  but  it  was  not,  and  never  would  be.  And,  all  this 
time,  she  held  a  grudge  against  Dr.  Kinnard,  as  if  he, 
somehow,  had  forced  her  into  her  present  dissatisfaction. 

Maud  came  from  that  austere,  unloving  house  to  her 
father's,  so  radiant  with  an  atmosphere  of  kindliness. 
Bertie  was  quite  a  little  gentleman.  Grandmother  might 
have  a  few  childish  ways,  to  be  sure  ;  but  they  softened  her, 
and  were  really  no  detriment.  Dr.  Kinnard  evinced  a 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  315 

decided  disposition  to  be  jolly.  He  was  fall  of  odd  little 
jests  and  half  caresses :  he  no  longer  shut  himself  in  his 
"  den,"  and  locked  the  door.  The  parlor  was  always 
open  and  inviting ;  neighbors  were  dropping  in  with  bits 
of  outflowing  social  life ;  and  Mrs.  Kinnard  was  in  the 
midst,  the  sun  around  which  they  converged. 

"When  Aunt  Adelaide  trained  Maud  in  carping,  critical 
ways,  she  little  dreamed  that  the  weapon  might  be 
turned  against  herself.  So  true  it  is,  that  we  often  get 
back  just  the  measure  we  have  meted  out.  She  was 
too  sharp  and  keen,  too  prematurely  a  woman,  not  to 
remark  the  contrast.  There  was  an  air  of  distinction  and 
breeding  about  Mrs.  Kinnard ;  and  a  sense  of  culture 
and  refinement  pervaded  the  house.  The  talk  was  not  of 
the  stock-market,  or  recent  political  developments,  rings, 
and  swindlers.  For  the  first  time,  the  forlorn,  narrow, 
empty  heart  was  stirred  with  a  quivering  sense  of  some 
thing  it  had  never  known,  or  been  taught  to  look  upon  in 
a  distorted  light.  No  one  tyrannized  over  her :  no  one 
nipped  the  breath  of  pleasure  by  snapping  frost,  or 
snatched  it  awajr  with  grasping  selfishness.  She  could 
not  even  make  a  martyr  of  herself:  there  were  neither 
cross  nor  fagots,  chains  nor  cells.  No  one  read  her 
wearisome  lectures  on  the  meanness  and  wrong-doing  of 
her  neighbors ;  but  she  was  taken  to  ride,  asked  into  the 
parlor,  and  introduced  to  guests,  and  found  Mr.  Dudley 
absolutely  entertaining.  Ah,  Aunt  Adelaide !  it  was  in 
j'our  power  to  overlay  the  fine  gold  with  the  dust  and 
rubbish  of  falsehood  and  injustice ;  but  you  could  not 
take  it  utterly  away  :  some  day  it  would  shine  out  all  the 
brighter. 

She  packed  her  trunk  again  ;  and  her  father  accompanied 
her  to^  school.  Her  heart  swelled  with  a  new  sense  of 
loneliness.  They  were  all  at  home,  bright  and  happy  ; 
and  she  — 

"  Well,  I  am  glad  that  is  off  my  mind,"  confessed  Dr. 
Kinnard  on  his  return. 


316  NELLY  IQNNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

Nelly  glanced  up  with  a  light  in  her  eyes,  partly  amuse 
ment,  partly  delicate  reproach. 

"There,  I  know  just  what  you  want  to  say,  Nelly;" 
and  the  odd  puckers  settled  in  his  face  along  with  a  per 
ceptible  flush.  "  You  are  so  much  of  an  angel,  that  you 
can  love  long  beforehand,  in  season,  and  out  of  season, 
and  trust  for  the  fruit  to  grow  in  midwinter  depths,  I  do 
believe  ;  but  I  have  a  good  deal  of  the  old,  unregenerate 
Adam  in  me.  I  have  absolutely  longed  to  give  Maud  a 
good  scolding,  to  strip  off  her  furbelows,  put  on  a  plain 
calico  gown,  and  set  her  in  some  little  girl's  place  until 
she  knew  how  to  behave  herself  property.  I  cannot  under 
stand  your  patience  and  sweetness  with  her.  Is  it  really 
best?" 

"  I  think  it  is.  At  all  events,  I  want  you  to  let  me  try 
it  freely,  without  grudging.  There  are  some  fruits  and 
flowers,  of  which  the  slow,  natural  growth  is  so  much  better 
than  the  forced,  hot-house  production.  She  has  been  so 
long  trained  awry,  that,  if  we  wrench  off  all  the  branches 
suddenl}*,  there  will  only  be  a  bare,  unsightly  stump  left. 
At  her  age,  she  must  learn  to  know  and  judge  for  herself. 
I  think  I  have  seen  some  indications  of  a  change  since 
her  return  from  her  aunt's."  « 

"O  Nelly!"  and  the  doctor  gave  a  mellow,  sweet- 
natured  laugh  :  "  you  do  hang  a  hope  on  the  smallest  peg 
of  any  one  I  ever  saw.  This  one  isn't  bigger  than  a  thorn 
on  a  rosebush,  and  of  the  same  quality." 

"  But  3-011  must  admit  that  it  is  near  the  rose?"  and 
she  looked  up  with  a  meriy  archness  in  her  brilliant  face. 

"Well,  I  thought  her  terrible  sometimes,  rude  and 
ungracious." 

"  I  think  she  Avas  occasionally  moved  by  so  strange  and 
new  a  feeling,  that  the  ungraciousness  cropped  out  as  a 
sort  of  bristling  armor,  with  the  instinctive  desire  of  self- 
defence.  She  has  been  trained  to  expect  constant  warfare 
from  us ;  and  she  is  on  the  lookout  for  it :  so  yon  see 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  317 

it  is  not  easy  to  throw  down  her  arms  at  the  first  pleasant 
word,  and  believe  all  at  once.  And  when  she  finds 
that  we  do  not  expect  her  to,  that  we  are  willing  for  her  to 
try  us,  but  that  the  love  is  always  there,  waiting  for  her, 
I  do  believe  she  will  take  it  some  day." 

"  Oh,  j-ou  wise  little  woman  !  You  do  set  silken  snares 
for  the  feet  of  the  wary :  the  unwary  walk  into  your  net 
without  any  snares  at  all.  Where  is  my  little  moppet, 
Frank?  I  must  console  mj'self  with  some  innocent- 
minded  kisses,  that  have  in  them  no  flavor  of  new  gowns 
or  cunning  intentions." 

The  next  bit  of  brightness  was  the  tidings  of  a  baby  at 
the  Duncans',  —  a  little  boy  come  in  the  stead  of  the 
other  given  up  to  the  Lord,  to  be  set  in  his  garden. 

At  the  rectory  they  were  oddly  changed  and  quiet ;  yet 
the}'  did  not  narrow  their  lives.  On  the  contrary,  it 
seemed  as  if  a  breadth  and  richness  came  to  Mr.  Endicott, 
instead  of  any  decline  in  power.  He  had  used  his  life  so 
wise!}*,  so  sweetly !  He  was  asked  to  preach  a  sermon 
here  and  there,  and  had  several  pamphlets  printed,  that 
attracted  considerable  attention,  not  only  for  their  sound 
doctrine,  but  the  ways  and  methods  of  practical  usefulness 
set  forth. 

Then  came  a  call  to  a  city  church,  with  quite  an  ac 
cession  of  salary. 

"Why,  I  don't  need  to  consider,"  he  said  with  his 
sweet,  unworldly  smile,  when  his  wife  spoke  of  it.  "My 
people  are  not  tired  of  me  :  why  should  I  go?  No  spot 
could  ever  be  so  clear  to  us  as  this  old  rectorj-,  though 
it  is  something  like  a  last  year's  bird's-nest.  Religion 
isn't  simpl}*  bringing  people  into  the  kingdom  :  it  is  keep 
ing  them  there,  teaching  them  the  precious  meanings,  the 
use  of  the  promises,  the  value  of  the  praj-ers.  I  can  do 
that,  and  we  shall  have  enough  to  live  upon :  so  what 
more  do  we  need,  except  that  '  the  everlasting  arms  ' 
shall  be  about  us?" 
27* 


318  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

What  more,  truly !  It  would  be  like  spoiling  the  silken 
silver  hair  with  strange,  obtrusive  dyes,  or  painting  the 
soft,  pink,  wrinkled  cheeks  with  brilliant  carmine.  They 
had  come  to  the  autumn  ;  and  they  liked  the  shelter  of  the 
friendly  trees  that  had  grown  about  them  :  no  smart  new 
iron  fences  or  brick  walls  could  cast  so  pleasant  and  fra 
grant  a  shade. 

Dais}'  Endicott  was  glad,  too,  for  many  reasons,  that 
she  could  not  put  into  words.  Life  had  come  to  have 
higher  and  fuller  meanings  for  her.  She  had  reached  her 
twentieth  birthday,  with  a  little  awe  and  great  gladness. 
She  was  beginning  to  see  what  there  was  in  the  world,  to 
take  it,  and  live  in  the  midst  of  the  delight,  not  to  be 
asking  whether  there  would  be  bread  for  to-morrow,  or 
sunshine,  or  any  scantiness  on  account  of  the  bountiful 
to-day. 

There  had  been  no  great  and  heroic  struggle  for  peace. 
Little  by  little,  she  had  grown  out  of  the  secret  restless 
ness  :  the  way  had  become  lighter  and  clearer ;  and  she 
saw  that  this  desire  and  pain  and  sorrow  had  not  been 
love,  in  any  true  sense,  and  that  she  had  overcome  it  all. 
It  did  not  even  pain  her  to.  hear  that  Van  Alstyne  was 
married.  All  the  others  had  bewailed  his  choice  a  little. 
She  understood  in  the  depths  of  her  soul  how  much 
better  it  was  that  his  wife  should  not  have  that  tender, 
clinging,  loving  nature,  but  be  able  to  satisfy  herself  with 
outside  pleasures.  Of  them  all,  she  pitied  poor  Elsie 
Graham,  who  was  casting  away  her  soul  for  a  vain  shadow. 

Daisy  had  taken  her  friend  back  with  a  clear,  honest 
rejoicing,  rather  than  any  thrill  of  delight.  He  was  so 
purely  friendly.  She  had  given  him  a  great  pang  and 
sorrow ;  and  to  know  that  he  had  outgrown  it  was  a 
present  joy  to  her.  • 

They  went  through  a  very  pleasant  autumn.  There 
seemed  so  little  to  do  at  the  rectory !  Gertie  and  Edith 
were  in  school ;  there  was  a  good,  experienced  woman  in 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  319 

the  kitchen ;  and  Mrs.  Endicott  had  lost  none  of  her 
olden  art  of  management.  Daisy  fluctuated  between 
West  Side  and  Edgerly.  But  then  Fan  was  always 
happy  and  prosperous  ;  the  children  were  well ;  Aunt  and 
Uncle  Churchill  were  good  company  ;  and  there  was  such 
a  wide  and  friendly  life  spreading  out  before  her.  Nelly 
seemed  rather  more  alone ;  and  then  they  two  were  nearer 
in  age.  Daisy  embroidered  for  the  bab}',  did  this  or  that 
trifle  for  Nelly,  and  went  every  week,  to  spend,  at  least, 
one  day  with  her.  She  was  beginning  to  look  upon  her 
future  life  as  settled,  —  this  vibrating  from  one  to  the 
other,  and  taking  a  kindly  interest  in  her  sisters'  chil 
dren. 

Dr.  Kinnard  looked  on  with  a  shrewd  gleam  of  fore 
sight,  yet  at  times  a  little  puzzled.  They  were  too  frank 
for  lovers.  There  were  no  sky,  pretty  embarrassments 
on  Dais3"'s  part,  none  of  that  half-transparent  planning 
on  Mr.  Dudle3*'s.  Yet  he  seemed  alwa}-s  to  drop  in  on 
the  da}-s  devoted  to  Dais}- ;  and  he,  not  infrequent!}*,  drove 
her  to  the  station  at  night.  On  rare  occasions  he  went 
over  to  the  rector}*,  but  not  with  any  lover-like  persist 
ency. 

"  If  they  do  not  see,  they  will  be  the  blindest  people 
in  the  world.  He  likes  Daisy  so  much  !  "  was  the  doc 
tor's  vexed  comment. 

Meanwhile  the  holidaj's  were  approaching.  What 
would  Maud  choose  to  do? 

She  made  her  election.  Miss  North,  her  room-mate, 
had  asked  her  for  the  ten  days,  and  she  wished  to  go. 
Not  a  word  about  Aunt  Adelaide. 

"I  do  not  know  that  I  quite  approve  of  her  going  away 
with  strange  girls,"  said  the  doctor  decisively.  "She 
had  better  come  home.  You  do  not  think  so,  I  can  see 
by  3"our  face." 

"Is  it  so  much  of  a  barometer?"  asked  Nell}*,  smil 
ing.  "Well,  this  is  what  I  do  think  exactly.  You 


320  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

have  not  been  to  Melrose  Hall  this  season :  so  suppose 
you  take  a  journey  thither,  and  see  this  Miss  North  in  an 
incidental  way.  If  you  can  approve  of  her,  I  should  let 
Maud  go.  Pier  great  need  is  companions  of  her  own 
age." 

"  But  she  ought  to  take  some  kind  of  interest  in  her 
own  home,"  was  the  rather  dissatisfied  reply. 

"  Perhaps  she  will  in  time." 

"  Well,  I  will  tell  her  that  she  owes  the  pleasure  to 
you." 

"You  will  do  DO  such  thing,"  returned  Nelly  quickly. 
''That  would  spoil  it  for  her  at  once.  No,  I  am  quite 
willing  to  remain  in  the  background." 

"  But  she  ought  to  be  made  to  feel  that  she  owes  you 
some  kind  of  respect;"  and  the  doctor  paused  to  study 
his  wife's  amused  face. 

"  My  dear  Barton,  there  are  many  things  that  you 
cannot  force  into  people's  souls.  We  may  sow  virtues 
all  along  the  wayside  ;  but  if  we  have  the  childish  habit 
of  digging  them  up  every  little  while,  to  see  how  they  are 
progressing,  they  cannot  take  firm  root." 

"  I  freely  admit  there  is  a  good  deal  of  contrariness  to 
human  nature." 

"It  is  not  altogether  that.  Children  dislike  to  have 
the  leading-strings  constantly  dangled  about  their  necks. 
If  3'ou  can  place  some  good  in  their  way,  and  let  them 
think  they  are  the  actual  discoverers,  they  take  to  it  twice 
as  kindly.  Isn't  it  sometimes  a  good  deal  of  vanity*  on 
our  part  to  insist  that  they  shall  alwa}-s  recognize  our 
share  in  it?  I  do  believe  in  a  wise  freedom." 

"With  a  managing  hand  underneath.      Ah,  you  wise' 
woman  !     I  shall  begin  to  suspect  you  of  practising  your 
delicate  art  on  me  presenthy." 

"  Yet  you  admit  that  my  system  is  an  improvement  on 
Aunt  Adelaide's?  "  »• 

He  laughed  pleasantly,  and  kissed  her  in  token  of 
assent. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  321 

Tho  call  at  Melrose  Hall  was  a  decided  success. 

"  I  do  think,  my  dear,"  he  said  afterward,  "•  that  Maud 
actually  begins  to  improve.  I  was  surprised  when  I  saw 
her  friend, — one  of  those  cordial,  good-hearted,  jolly 
girls,  in  plain  attire,  whose  sensibleness  strikes  }~ou  at 
ouce.  And  Maud  wants  to  ask  her  home  next  summer. 
It  seems  there  is  a  great  fa'ruily  of  these  North  children  • 
and  Miss  Kitt}',  about  sixteen,  is  the  eldest.  And,  since 
Maud  never  had  any  childhood,  the  sooner  she  can  get 
back  to  its  shadow,  the  better.  Aunt  Adelaide  is  not 
ver}'  well ;  and  I  think  now,  Maud's  visit  of  last  summer 
Avas  not  a  brilliant  success.  I  do  hope  it  has  not  turned 
out  a  poor  marriage  ;  for  Aunt  Adelaide  was  worthjr  of  a 
better  fate.  Still  she  has  no  one  but  herself  to  blame. 
She  scouted  tho  idea  of  my  making  any  inquiries  con- 
*cerning  Mr.  Garland's  real  standing.  I  must  also  tell 
you  that  Maud  inquired  very  kindly  after  you  and  the 
baby." 

Nell's  eyes  beamed. 

"  I  think  it  will  all  come  around  right,  if  we  have 
patience.  Whib  I  should  never  try  to  draw  Maud  away 
from  her  aunt,  I  still  think-  a  diversity  of  interest  better. 
And,  if  she  should  come  to  have  a  strong  one  at  home,  I 
shall  feel  amply  repaid." 

There  was  a  pleasant  Christmas,  with  the  usual  fes 
tivities.  Mr.  Dudley  managed  to  get  over  to  the  chil 
dren's  festival,  at  Mr.  Endicott's.  Daisy  had  been  her 
father's  vicegerent ;  and  as  Mr.  Dudley  watched  her 
pretty,  helpful  wa}*s,  the  old  idea  came  over  him,  with 
the  longing  that  he  had  quite  put  away,  he  fancied,  —  to 
have  her  for  his  wife,  the  beneficent  spirit  of  his  own 
home. 

She  had  never  given  any  sign  or  token  that  it  might  be. 
He  could  not  risk  another  misunderstanding :  the  friend 
liness  was  so  much  better  than  nothing.  But  if  she 
could  have  loved  him ;  if  she  could  love  him  now !  If 


322  NELLY   KINNARD'S   KINGDOM. 

he  could  draw  her  to  him  in  that  frank,  sweet  manner, 
and  have  her  say  the  one  word  ! 

Yet  they  were  unconsciously  coming  nearer.  If  some 
incident  would  only  open  their  eyes !  Dr.  Kinnard 
fretted  over  it,  and  could  hardly  keep  from  making  some 
overt  demonstration,  but  was  held  back  b}~  Nelly's  finer 
delicacy  and  patience,  that  alwa}Ts  came  like  an  inspira 
tion. 

And  yet  the  first  hint  Daisy  had  of  it  came  in 
jesting  gossip.  Other  people  began  to  wonder. 

She  paused  suddenly  in  her  serene  and  happy  living. 
Did  he  care?  Did  she  want  him  to  care? 

There  was  a  confused  and  painful  sensation.  She  was 
glad  to  get  away  alone,  where  she  could  look  the  terror 
in  the  face,  where  no  eyes  could  see  her  burning  cheeks. 
If  he  went  quite  out  of  her  existence  again  — 

The  question  was  to  come  sooner  than  she  thought. 
He  received  a  call  to  a  flourishing  Western  city,  —  a 
church  to  be  built  up  out  of  much  the  same  material  as 
here  at  Edgerly,  save  that  it  would  be  larger,  more  Avidely 
known,  afford  him  a  greater  sphere  of  usefulness,  per 
haps.  They  urged  him  very  strongty.  Some  other  man 
could  do  his  work  here,  and  he  might  be  of  more  service 
there. 

Dr.  Kinnard  vetoed  the  plan  at  once.  "If  it  is  for  a 
larger  salary,  Dudley,"  he  said  in  his  straightforward 
way,  "half  a  dozen  of  the  present  subscriptions  shall  be 
increased." 

"  No,  it  is  not  that.  Do  not  suspect  me  of  such  merce 
nary  motives,  nry  dear  friend." 

"Then,  Dudley,"  for  the  doctor  could  keep  silence  no 
longer,  "  my  advice  to  you  is,  to  go  on  with  the  rector}', 
and  marry  a  nice  pleasant  girl,  who  will  just  fit  into  the 
niche  of  a  clergyman's  wife,  and  proceed  with  your  work 
here.  I  think  you  can  do  both." 

Arthur  Dudley  colored  vividly. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  323 

He  went  over  to  consult  Mr.  Endicott.  Daisy  sat  in  a 
corner  of  the  study,  crocheting  a  little  tippet  for  some 
of  her  parish  poor. 

"  No,  don't  go,"  Mr.  Dudley  said  with  a  gesture  of 
the  hand.  "•  You  may  be  able  to  help  us  to  a  decision." 

She  resumed  her  seat  and  her  work,  and  listened. 
What  came  over  her  ?  A  kind  of  dismay  at  first,  then  a 
quick  sense  of  loss  and  loneliness.  "Was  he  more  than 
a  friend  to  her  ? 

Dinner  was  announced  before  they  were  through. 
Daisy  rose  with  averted  face,  and  tried  to  compose  her 
tumultuous  feelings.  Mr.  Dudley  had  been  reading  his 
friend's  letter  descriptive  of  the  place  and  the  work. 
Mr.  Endicott  had  said,  "  It  may  be  3'our  duty  to  go." 

She  understood  presently  how  it  was  with  her.  The 
hazy  pleasantness  cleared  up  sharp  and  distinct.  With 
Mr.  Van  Alst}'ne  it  had  been  a  dazzling  glimpse  of  pos 
sible  love,  fervent,  delicious,  but  comprehending  nothing 
beyond,  —  a  supremely  selfish  delight.  And  this  was  so 
different.  Yes,  she  would  like  to  enter  into  this  man's 
life,  the  loving,  sympathizing,  keeping  his  home  pretty 
and  neat  and  cheerful,  as  mamma  had  done  in  her 
sphere,  reading  and  talking  to  him,  taking  part  in  that 
wider  work,  the  whole  world.  Every  thing  would  be 
rnado  more  sacred  and  beautiful  l>y  sharing  it  with  him. 
A  sense  of  soul-life  revealed  and  brought  close,  an  awak 
ening  to  a  great  richness,  a  consciousness  that  thrilled, 
but  wavered  not,  that  here  might  be  her  abiding-place. 

Might  be  !     Ah,  what  if  it  was  too  late  ? 

If  he  had  taken  her  at  her  word  ;  for  in  this  friendly 
demeanor  of  the  last  year  she  could  not>  recall  one  lover- 
like  look  or  act,  one  tone  warmer  than  the  clear  good 
Christian  fellowship.  They  had  ridden  and  walked  to 
gether :  there  had  been  opportunities  — 

Like  a  swift  rushing  tide  it  came  over  her.  Whether 
he  went  or  staid,  no  matter  what  his  duty  or  condition, 
she  would  be  shut  out :  she  had  shut  herself  out. 


324  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

She  seemed  to  draw  long  breaths  in  an  unillumined 
polar  solitude.  She  was  hurt  and  chilled  ;  and  yet  it  had 
been  her  own  sad  mistake.  Would  God  give  her  the 
grace  to  live  out  of  this,  and  ever  be  calmly  happj"  again  ? 

She  helped  about  clearing  away  the  dinner-dishes. 
She  could  not  go  back  to  the  study  again  :  it  would  seem 
strange  to  sit  in  her  own  room  alone.  If  she  had  an 
errand  to  Fan's,  or  to  Mrs.  Fairlie's.  But  no:  she  could 
not  talk  on  pleasant  indifferent  subjects.  Then  some  one 
came  for  papa,  an  urgent  summons. 

"  Don't  go  3ret,  Dudley.  I  want  you  to  look  over  that 
new  commentary.  —  Come  in,  Daisy,  and  keep  him  com 
pany  while  I  am  gone.  Let  me  see  —  where  did  I  la}'  my 
gloves?  " 

Daisy  knew,  and  brought  them.  He  stooped  to  kiss  her 
cheek,  then  gave  her  an  almost  startled  look. 

"  Wh}-,  childie,  are  you  not  paler  than  usual?  " 

She  was  brilliant  then  ;  and  the^y  both  laughed  a  little, 
he  blaming  his  old  eyes.  Then  she  took  her  seat  in  the 
corner,  and  went  on  with  her  work.  Mr.  Dudley  turned 
the  leaves  of  the  book.  The  fire  in  the  grate  sent  out  a 
ruddy  glow  ;  and  some  pale  yellow  bars  of  sunshine  lay  on 
the  floor.  Neither  of  them  could  begin  a  conversation : 
so  the  ticking  of  the  clock  alone  broke  the  silence. 

Arthur  Dudley  was  thinking  it  over.  He  knew  now 
that  he  should  never  care  to  many  any  woman  save  Daisy 
Enclicott.  /Love  and  marriage  were  sacraments  to  him, 
not  to  be  profaned  by  the  mere  sense  of  usefulness.  A 
housekeeper  or  cook  could  be  hired  :  a  tolerably  cheerful 
home  could  be  made  with  books,  pictures,  easj'-chairs,  and 
glowing  fires.  If  he  could  not  have  her,  he  would  have 
the  other ;  but  no  woman  should  mar  it  for  him,  under 
the  mistaken  idea  that  she  was  lending  it  a  glory.  If  he 
could  not  have  her  —  well,  then  it  would  be  best  to  go 


He   rose,  and   crossed   over  to  her  corner.     As   well 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  325 

decide  the  matter  now  as  to  let  it  hang  for  days  in  tor 
menting  alternations. 

"Miss  Knclicott,"  he  began  (for  although,  in  their 
household  relations,  these  girls  had  boon  used  to  various 
diminutives,  for  the  world  they  hedged  themselves  about 
with  that  air  of  fine  breeding  which  did  not  allow  undue 
familiarit}-) ,  —  "Miss  Endicott,  you  have  expressed  no 
opinion  yet.  Ought  I  to  go,  or  staj'?  " 

She  did  not  raise  her  ej'es,  and  even  her  breath  seemed 
to  become  entangled  with  that  flutter  in  her  throat.  Over 
her  face  and  neck  stole  a  wavering  pink  ;  and  her  fingers 
trembled  visibly.  Perhaps  the  most  cruel  impulse  of  his 
whole  life  was  to  prolong  the  moment,  and  read  those 
delicious  signs  of  agitation  that  could  hardly  be  wrongly 
translated. 

He  placed  his  hand  over  the  fingers,  gathering  them  up, 
cold  and  trembling  as  they  were. 

"  If  I  sta}',  Dais3*,  I  must  ask  again  for  the  boon  I  was 
once  denied.  If  you  can,  love  me  with  your  whole  heart : 
but  do  not  answer  out  of  pit}',  or  any  sentiment  less 
strong  than  my  love  for  3*011." 

She  did  not  stir,  nor  offer  to  raise  her  drooping  head, 
not  even  withdraw  her  hand  from  that  close,  warm  pres 
sure.  Oh  !  had  he  failed  again  ?  He  stooped  a  little,  brought 
his  face  nearer  hers  :  she  felt  his  breath  on  her  cheek. 

"Oh!"  she  cried,  with  sudden,  eager  trcmulousness. 
"  I  ought  not  answer  3*011  until  I  have  told  3*011  something. 
Then,  if  3*ou  still  care  "  — 

She  had  loved  another,  .then. 

"  Yes,  let  me  tell  3*011."  She  raised  her  blushing  face 
now,  with  the  tears  shining  in  her  proud,  honest  eyes. 

"  Yes,  tell  me,"  he  repeated,  sitting  down  beside  her. 

Had  she  been  less  morally  brave,  she  could  not  have 
confessed  her  stor\*  in  such  a  straightforward  manner.  It 
was  very  simple,  after  all, — her  girlish  mistake,  her 
socrec3',  the  one  kiss  upon  her  hand. 

28 


326  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  And  I  have  come  to  see  now  how  wild  such  a  thing 
would  have  been  for  me.  Only  a  few  months  of  bliss, 
and  a  whole  long  lifetime  of  neglect  or  indifference.  I 
don't  know  whether  it  is  jealousy  or  not;  but  I  should 
want  the  whole  heart  of  the  man  I  many,  and  I  would 
strive,  oh,  so  earnestly !  to  cherish  and  return  the  fullest 
regard." 

"It  is  not  very  much,"  with  a  satisfied  smile,  "yet, 
Dais}',  I  am  thankful  that  it  has  been  so  little.  Some 
how  I  think  I  should  not  want  the  love  of  a  woman  who 
had  been  tr}*ing  every  one  within  her  reach,  as  some 
women  do.  And  now  will  you  answer  m}-  question?  " 

"  If  I  will  be  your  wife?  Gladly,"  with  a  bright,  quiv 
ering  blush.  "  And  I  will  tiy  to  make  you  so  happy  !  I 
have  been  studying  mamma  ;"  and  there  she  paused,  con 
fused  by  her  own  naive  confession. 

"  No,  the  other  question." 

She  looked  up  puzzled,  then,  taking  in  the  whole  ex 
pression  of  his  face,  bent  hers  lower,  until  it  almost  hid 
itself  on  his  breast. 

"  If  I  love  3'ou,"  she  answered  in  a  soft,  trembling  whis 
per.  "  I  think  I  have  loved  3*011  a  long  while  ;  though  I 
never  realized  quite  what  it  was  until  to-day." 

lie  raised  the  sweet  face,  and  kissed  it  many  times, 
with  a  kind  of  exulting  consciousness  that  he  had  put  in 
a  pre-emption  claim  with  the  first  kiss  of  so  long  ago. 

Papa  Euclicott  sighed  a  little  ;  and  yet  he  welcomed  his 
new  son-in-law  cordially. 

"I  think  she  will  make  a  good  clergyman's  wife,"  he 
said. 

So  they  settled  that  the  rectory  should  go  on.  There 
would  be  work  enough  in  Edgerly  ;  and  being  near  Nelly 
added  to  the  pleasure  of  it. 

Arthur  Dudley  returned  home  a  very  happy  man.  At 
the  station,  he  saw  the  Gale's  box-wagon  and  the  man. 

"Are  you  going  right  out  home?"  he  asked. 


NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM.  327 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  man.     "  Can  I  give  you  a  lift?" 

"  As  far  as  Dr.  Kinnard's,  if  you  please." 

u  All  right.     Jump  in." 

For  lie  could  not  rest,  until  he  had  told  Barton  Kinnard 
that  the  closest  human  tie  possible  between  them  was 
henceforth  to  make  them  brothers. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

"  That  all  of  good  the  past  hath  had 
Eemains  to  make  our  own  time  glad, 
Our  common  daily  life  divine, 
And  every  land  a  Palestine. 

Through  the  harsh  noises  of  our  day 

A  low,  sweet  prelude  finds  its  way: 

Through  clouds  of  doubt,  and  creeds  of  fear, 

The  light  is  breaking  calm  and  clear."  —  J.  G.  WHITTIER. 

"WE  often  think  the  story  ends  with  a  marriage.  It 
seemed  to  me,  that,  when  Fan  and  I  were  married,  the 
whole  world  was  swept  up  clean  and  clear,  and  had  noth 
ing  to  do  but  fold  its  hands  in  its  silk-aproned  lap,  and 
rest.  I  was  so  childishly  happy.  It  seemed  as  if  there 
never  could  be  a  great  event  in  the  world  again,  hardly  a 
lover  beside  Fan's  and  mine. 

"I  suppose  I  narrowed  the  great  events,  because  I 
thought  they  were  done  happening  to  me.  But,  before  the 
bab}T  came,  I  had  found  out  my  mistake.  I  daresay  many 
of  us  have  a  brief  season  when  we  think  we  are  the  very 
centre,  and  the  worlds  not  lighted  by  us  are  hardly  lighted 
at  all. 

"  Then  Nelly  married  Dr.  Kinnard.  I  did  not  dread 
so  much  him  or  the  children,  as  his  mother,  and  the  first 
Mrs.  Kinnard's  sister.  I  think,  now,  it  must  have  been 
very  hard  ;  the}"  had  ruled  the  house  so  long,  and  he  was 
so  accustomed  to  their  rule.  Then,  too,  he  was  peculiar 
in  many  things. 

' '  She  had  worked  some  wonders  before  our  first  visit  to 

328 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  329 

her  home,  which,  though  old-fashioned,  was  really  very 
lovely.  Dr.  Kinnard  treated  her  in  an  indulgent,  fatherly 
manner,  as  if  she  were  a  pet  or  plaything.  I  wondered 
if  she  would  ever  get  into  the  very  middle  and  heart  of 
his  life,  as  I  was  in  Stephen's.  If  she  ever  felt  free  to 
talk  and  laugh  over  trifles,  or  confess  any  little  perplexity, 
or  even  badness  ;  for  wrong  thoughts  and  tempers  will 
intrude  occasionally.  I  could  see  there  would  be  trouble 
about  the  children.  It  seemed  to  me  no  one  in  Dr. 
Kinnard' s  household  really  loved  children,  not  even  him 
self.  They  were  to  be  endured,  to  be  made  to  behave 
properly,  and  kept  out  of  the  way  as  much  as  possible. 
The  little  boy  had  gone  to  school,  sorely  against  his 
aunt's  will ;  and  Nelly  tried  to  humanize  him  a  little. 
But  his  grandmother  fretted  ;  his  aunt  sneered  and  cav 
illed  at  nearly  every  thing  he  did ;  and  his  father  was 
often  annoyed  by  his  blundering. 

"  '  No  one  realty  wants  her  to  love  the  children,'  said 
Stephen  to  me.  -  It  is  bad  for  her  too.  Unless  Nelly 
is  a  very  exceptional  woman,  her  heart  will  be  centred 
in  her  own  ;  and  the}',  poor  things,  will  be  worse  than 
orphaned.  I  can't  help  feeling  sorry  for  them,  though 
they  are  not  lovable  in  themselves.' 

'"Nell}*  must  change  very  much,'  I  answered  deci 
sively,  '  before  she  can  make  an  unjust  or  even  indifferent 
stepmother.  She  will  do  her  very  best.' 

"  '  Circumstances  are  so  much  against  her.' 

"  I  used  to  think  of  her  often.  Her  letters  were  bright 
and  cheery :  she  had  taken  up  some  pleasant  church- 
relations.  I  liked  the  clergyman,  Mr.  Dudley,  so  much. 
He  was  so  clear  and  staunch  in  his  faith.  Dr.  Kinnard 
used  to  argue  with  him  in  a  kind  of  half- whimsical,  half- 
in-earnj'st  way,  and  bring  up  bits  of  science  that  seemed 
overwhelming ;  but  they  never  confused,  or  appeared  to 
trouble  him.  When  the  conversation  was  brisk  and 
animating,  I  used  to  think  of  the  old  dialogues  Louis  was 
28* 


330  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

so  fond  of  reading.  Here  was  the  modern  Christian  and 
the  ancient  philosopher. 

"  I  had  a  great  deal  of  interest  in  my  own  home.  True, 
Stephen  did  not  bring  his  business  to  me  ;  but  there  were 
mairy  subjects  besides,  and  I  always  had  Louis.  He  was 
superintendent  of  a  mission  Sunday  school.  He  asked 
two  or  three  of  the  boys  to  call  around  in  the  evening ; 
and,  after  a  while,  we  came  to  have  quite  a  reading-club  in 
the  nice  warm  kitchen.  He  supplied  them  with  books 
and  papers  ;  and  I  always  used  to  bring  out  a  plate  of 
sandwiches,  and  another  of  cake, — old-fashioned  cookies 
and  queencake,  real  Dutch  crullers  and  doughnuts.  It 
was  such  a  pleasure  to  see  them  eat !  One  night  Louis 
asked  two  of  the  bo}^  to  wash  their  hands,  and  took  them 
to  the  sink.  After  that,  their  hands  and  faces  fairly 
shone.  Then,  as  occasion  offered,  he  and  Stephen  used 
to  get  situations  for  them. 

"  Then  Mrs.  Whitcoinb  had  an  opportunity  to  go  abroad 
with  a  very  lovely  woman,  who  possessed  an  abundance 
of  means,  but  who  was  an  incurable  invalid.  She  was 
so  well  fitted  for  the  post ;  and  then*  too,  it  would  be  such 
a  delightful  thing  to  see  all  Europe,  or  even  a  part  of  it. 
Mrs.  Ra3*mond  had  already  spent  five  years  there. 

"'Yon  would  like  to  go?'  Stephen  said  to  me.  I 
know  my  eyes  were  shining  with  anticipation  for  her. 

"  '  Oh,  how  delightful  it  would  be  ! ' 

"  '  Wiry  couldn't  we  go,  Stephen?'  said  Louis.  'Not 
jnst  now :  I  would  rather  wait  until  I  am  in  orders. 
You  will  want  a  rest  from  business  some  time  ;  and,  when 
the  baby  is  older '  — 

"  'Yes,'  answered  Stephen,  rather  absently  I  thought. 

"  I  wondered  if  he  did  not  care  to  go.  He  had  been 
over  the  British  Isles,  to  Germany,  and  Paris.  Perhaps  — 
but  I  should  never  tease  him.  I  could  be  veiy  happy 
without  Europe,  when  I  had  so  much. 

"  Mrs.  Whitcomb's  leaving  gave  me  a  little  more  care. 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  331 

I  was  really  housekeeper  then,  planning  meals,  looking 
after  bed-linen  and  napen*,  counting  the  sih-er,  and 
seeing  that  my  best  china  was  not  kept  around  for  every— 
da}'  uses.  Then  there  were  visits,  too,  from  all  the  folks. 
I  did  use  to  enjo}"  Fan  when  she  came  to  shop.  We  used 
to  talk  about  all  Wachusett ;  and  now  we  took  in  Edgeiiy. 
Ah,  how  happy  we  all  were !  Only  now  and  then  I  used 
to  say,  '  Poor  Nelly ! '  thinking  of  aunts  and  grand 
mothers,  and  stepchildren  who  almost  broke  their  backs, 
and  had  to  be  nursed  for  months  and  months.  No  own 
mother  could  have  been  more  devoted  than  Nelly  was. 
Daisy  used  to  tell  over  bits  of  her  care  and  kindliness. 
'  And  it  is  odd,'  she  would  sa}*,  '  but  I  do  believe  Nelly 
is  teaching  Dr.  Kinnard  to  love  his  own  children.' 

"  Fancy  any  one  teaching  Stephen  to  love  our  little 
boy  !  But,  then,  he  was  so  rarely  beautiful  and  cunning  ! 

"  I  like  to  linger  over  these  days.  It  is  a  bit  of  fairy- 
lifc  ;  and  jet  there  was  not  much  real  grandeur  in  it,  — • 
a  plain,  three-stor}'  brick  house,  just  around  from  a  fash 
ionable  avenue,  pretty,  but  not  extravagantly  furnished. 
It  seemed  quite  a  palace  to  me  when  I  was  first  married ; 
but  Stephen  had  friends  living  in  so  much  greater  style, 
that  I  soon  began  to  feel  very  modest. 

"  I  used  to  think,  if  we  could  only  keep  a  horse  and  car 
riage,  I  would  not  ask  to  live  any  more  elegantly,  but  for 
Stephen  to  have  a  little  more  leisure,  and  the  carriage  at 
our  command.  Not  that  I  suffered  much  in  this  respect. 
Louis  used  to  take  baby  and  me  out  pleasant  afternoons. 
The  income  of  his  part  amply  sufficed  for  a  few  indul 
gences  of  this  kind  ;  and  then  he  never  cared  to  go  alone. 
It  was  having  a  kind  and  tender  brother  to  anticipate 
every  want. 

"  We  did  not  see  so  much  of  Stuart.  He  was  in  a  large 
mercantile  house,  and  doing  considerable  travelling,  as  he 
expected,  in  a  year  or  two  more,  to  have  a  share  in  the 
business.  He  was  considered  very  promising  and  bill- 


332  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

liant ;  and  young  ladies  were  beginning  to  be  fascinated 
with  him. 

"  Right  in  the  midst  of  this  came  the  blow  and  the 
sorrow.  Last  week,  brightness  and  laughter ;  tiny  feet 
pattering  up  and  down ;  silvery  tones  floating  through  the 
atmosphere  with  such  a  glad,  sunshiny,  tremulous  vibra 
tion  ;  tender  kisses  at  morn  ;  a  little  praj-cr  at  night,  —  a 
blessedness  so  perfect,  that  I  used  sometimes  to  ask  why 
I  was  singled  out  for  the  exceeding  great  joy. 

"  And  then  an  awesome,  fearful  silence  ;  a  little  coffin  ; 
flowers  whose  scent  will  be  indissolubly  connected  with 
my  first-born,  if  I  should  live  centuries ;  and  then  a 
darkened  house  ;  a  sorrow  so  wordless  that  I  could  cnly 
sit  in  its  fearful  grasp,  holding  close  and  fast  to  some 
thing, —  not  God,  not  heaven  where  he  had  gone,  not 
any  comfort  or  consolation,  but  a  strange  phantom,  a 
baby  that  was  never  out  of  my  heart  or  arms,  who  lay 
there  still  and  motionless,  who  could  not  answer  my  kisses 
or  my  passionate  longings. 

"  I  was  quiet  a  good  deal,  for  Stephen's  sake  ;  but,  be 
sides,  such  an  awful  terror  had  fallen  upon  me,  that  I  did 
not  want  to  speak.  Daisy  came  to  stay  with  me.  I  was 
so  glad  for  Stephen's  sake !  She  used  to  talk  to  him ; 
and  she  had  such  sweet,  comforting  wa}-s !  I  who  had 
measured  the  ache  and  agony  of  his  soul  could  not  bear 
to  touch  upon  it. 

"  What  daj's  they  were !  The  common  duties  of  life  were 
gone  through  with.  I  did  not  neglect  my  house,  nor  my 
church,  nor  my  poor  neighbors,  in  whom  I  had  taken  an 
interest  heretofore.  I  used  to  wish  there  were  more  for 
me  to  do,  that  every  moment  could  be  full,  leaving  no 
room  for  listless  sorrow.  I  fancied  I  fought  against  it,  in 
just  enduring  passively,  in  not  rebelling. 

"  The  first  thing  that  roused  and  interested  me  was 
Louis's  coming  ordination.  I  had  meant,  all  along,  to 
make  a  surplice  for  him,  I  was  so  fond  of  fine  needle- 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  333 

work  and  embroidery.  He  drew  patterns  for  the  latter : 
he  had  such  a  genius  for  designs  and  emblems  and  win 
dows,  and  finding  the  hidden  meanings,  the  types  that 
were  a  soul-substance  to  our  thoughts,  that  brought  us 
somehow  nearer  to  God, —  the  fine-twined  linen,  the  cun 
ning  work,  the  beaten  gold,  the  service  for  him.  And  so 
I  took  it  in  hand  while  he  sat  and  talked  of  examinations, 
of  hope,  of  a  diviner  life,  all  the  poetry  and  ideality  of  his 
nature  coming  out.  I  used  to  wonder,  sometimes,  if  this 
was  really  the  Louis  Duncan  of  years  ago.  But  it  was 
not,  altogether.  The  love  of  God  had  constrained  him  to 
better  thoughts  and  purposes.  I  used  to  feel  now,  that,  if 
he  were  not  to  be  a  clergj'man,  he  would  be  an  artist. 

"  The  time  came  ;  and  he  took  his  solemn  vows,  was  set 
apart  to  sacred  uses.  Papa  and  mamma  were  present ; 
and  their  cup  of  joy  filled  to  the  brim.  "  Son  Louis," 
father  said  with  tender  solemnity ;  and  he  seemed,  some 
how,  adopted  into  our  family,  — made  one  of  us. 

"  It  came  to  me  then  —  it  was  a  foolish  thought,  I  know  ; 
but  there  was  Daisy.  If  Louis  could  but  like  her !  She 
would  make  such  a  lovely  clergyman's  wife  ! 

"  Then  Fan  planned  a  grand  summering  at  the  White 
Mountains,  not  hotel  life,  with  its  set  routine,  but  the 
grand  freedom  of  house-keeping  on  a  farm.  Mr.  Ogden 
knew  of  a  house  the}*  could  hire.  The  Kinnards  were  to 
join  ;  and  if  we  would  come  ! 

"  '  I  wish  you  would,  Rose  ! '  said  Stephen  with  much 
solicitude  in  his  tones.  '  You  need  a  change.  And  I 
think  I  shall  have  to  go  to  Chicago  presently  for  two 
weeks  or  so.  Louis  might  stay  all  the  time.' 

' '  Louis  looked  at  me  questioninghr. 

"  '  No,'  I  answered  :  '  I  don't  want  to  go.  They  will 
all  be  gay  and  happj',  and  I  want  quiet.' 

"  That  night  he  asked  me  if  I  would  go  to  Europe. 
He  might  get  off  by  August,  he  thought ;  and  we  could 
have  six  months. 


334  NELLY  KIKNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

"  '  No,'  I  returned,  not  even  tempted  by  that.  Aftei*- 
ward  I  was  so  glad  I  had  not  caught  at  the  relief. 

"There  was  another  plan  presently.  Papa  was  going 
with  the  party.  His  parish  would  pay  expenses,  and  find 
a  substitute  while  he  was  gone.  Would  not  Louis  like 
to  come,  and  Stephen  and  I?  Daisy  was  to  stay  to  keep 
house. 

"•  '  Oh,  it  would  be  delightful ! '  exclaimed  Louis.  '  A 
whole  summer  spent  there !  Eose,  we  might  live  over 
what  was  good  in  the  old  times.' 

"  Stephen  studied  me  then  with  some  anxiety. 

"  '  Yes/  I  returned:  '  I  do  believe  I  would  like  that. 
Only,  can  you  come,  Stephen  ? ' 

"  '  I  will  try  my  best.  Yes,  I  shall  be  there  a  good 
deal.' 

"  So  it  came  to  pass  that  we  went  home  for  the  summer. 
Not  until  after  the  rest  had  all  gone  :  I  did  not  feel  as  if 
I  could  bear  the  bustle  of  getting  off,  and  the  good-bys. 

"We  came  in  and  took  possession.  I  in  the  guest- 
chamber,  because  it  was  large  and  airy  ;  and  I  knew,  too, 
that  Louis  would  rather  have  some  other  one.  There 
were  only  Daisy  and  Gertrude  left.  So  we  took  up  a 
quiet  house-keeping.  The  Churchill  carriage  was  placed 
at  our  convenience. 

"  After  a  fortnight  Stephen  started  for  Chicago.  Busi 
ness  was  in  a  perplexing  state ;  and,  instead  of  two  weeks, 
he  was  detained  six  ;  and  then  he  had  to  go  farther  West. 
Altogether,  it  was  two  months  before  he  reached  home ; 
and  then  he  could  onl}-  make  a  flying  visit  with  us.  Of 
course,  I  could  not  go  back  with  him,  and  leave  the  girls. 

"  Was  I  happy  that  summer?  Looking  back,  I  can 
hardly  answer,  either  way.  It  was  a  kind  of  languid 
content.  Louis  was  so  good  and  watchful.  He  would 
never  allo\v  me  to  tire  myself  out  going  around  with 
Dais}' ;  he  drove  me  out  often  ;  he  read  to  me,  talked  to 
me,  sat  through  the  twilight  evenings  with  me,  and,  some- 


NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  335 

how,  I  came  to  be  strangely  comforted.  I  gave  up  my 
project  for  him  and  Daisy.  She  was  too  practical :  she 
was  a  curious  mixture  of  frankness  and  indifference ; 
sunny,  but  not  enkindling.  He  needed  a  different  nature  ; 
and  I  doubted  much  whether  she  would  be  strongly 
attracted  towards  him. 

"  So  we  drifted  on  very  pleasantly.  They  all  returned 
home  at  length,  with  Queenie's  brave  lover.  "We had  con 
sidered  Fan  a  most  fortunate  girl ;  but  this  would  distance 
her  complete]}-.  The  Mallorys  were  old  friends  of  the 
Duncan  family  :  Stephen  and  I  had  met  them  incidentally. 
Mrs.  Mallory  was  'such  a  charming  old  lady !  I  always 
thought  she  was  like  the  solitaire  diamonds  she  wore,  — • 
bright,  sparkling,  the  very  finest  of  their  kind,  but  not  too 
much  in  any  way.  She  never  tired  you.  When  she  was 
going  out  of  the  room,  yon  wished  she  could  stay  ten  min 
utes  longer :  when  she  ceased  talking,  you  wanted  to  ask 
her  two  or  three  more  questions.  She  appeared  fond  of 
marnma  ;  but  she  perfectly  adored  papa  and  Bessie. 

' '  I  moved  about  them  quietl}-.  They  had  all  distanced 
me.  I  was  not  jealous.  Nell}'  was  so  happy,  so  handsome 
too.  Fan  always  had  her  cup  running  over.  No  sorrow 
for  an}-  of  them.  I  was  glad  with  a  pure,  unalloyed  glad 
ness  ;  but  I  hugged  my  own  sorrow  to  my  heart. 

"  '  You  are  still  fretting,  Rose,'  Stephen  said,  his  brows 
drawn  a  little,  as  if —  somehow  —  it  displeased  him. 

"  '  No,  I  am  not  fretting,'  I  made  answer  almost  cold 
ly.  '  I  have  been  quite  —  quite  happy.'  I  had  meant  to 
say  content ;  but  I  altered  it  to  please  him. 

"  '  You  don't  look  bright :  yon  are  thin  and  pale.' 

"  '  As  if  I  could  ever  be  bright  again  ! ' 

"  I  was  sorry  the  moment  I  had  uttered  it.  Stephen 
turned  and  walked  away.  What  had  come  to  him  of  late? 

"  Louis  found  me  afterward,  crying,  and  comforted  me. 

"I  did  not  realize  any  of  these  things  then.  I  was  self 
ishly  wrapped  in  my  own  grief.  So  long  as  I  was  not 


336  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

obtrusive,  I  thought  I  had  a  right  to  it.  And  the  almost 
womanly  S3'mpathy  of  Louis  confirmed,  instead  of  rous 
ing,  me.  Stephen  appeared  a  good  deal  pro-occupied. 

"  Then  we  made  ready,  and  went  back  to  the  city.  Bus 
iness  seemed  urgent  and  perplexing.  Some  evenings, 
Stephen  did  not  get  home  until  late ;  and  then  he  was 
tired.  We  had  so  few  of  those  sweet  little  matrimonial 
privacies,  that,  though  foolish,  are  very  endearing  between 
husband  and  wife,  and,  after  all,  are  never  meant  for  the 
world.  I  did  not  bother  him  about  any  thing,  because  I 
wanted  him  to  rest  while  he  was  in  the  house  ;  and  then 
I  always  had  Louis.  He  had  taken  an  assistantship  in 
a  church  not  far  distant.  I  used  to  go  to  morning  and 
evening  praj-ers ;  and  3ret  it  was  not  like  the  religion  of 
my  girlhood. 

"  But  I  had  not  come  to  troubles  then. 

"  Was  I  growing  any  better  or  happier?  Life  seemed  so 
dreary,  I  wanted  to  be  away  and  at  rest.  I  only  thought 
of  heaven,  in  those  days,  as  a  place  of  brooding  bliss, 
where  one  might  wander  dreamily  by  the  river-side,  and 
pluck  healing  fruits  to  strengthen  and  refresh  their  souls 
as  nothing  on  this  earth  could  help  them  to  do.  I  was 
calm  and  placid  :  it  was  not  my  nature  to  be  fretful. 

"  One  night  after  we  had  gone  to  our  room,  Stephen  sat 
down  on  the  edge  of  the  bed.  He  had  been  home  all  the 
evening,  and  very  quiet.  Louis  had  been  explaining  to 
me  a  guild  association,  that  was  to  be  in  working-order 
another  summer  to  look  after  sick  children  and  weary 
mothers,  and  take  them  out  of  the  city  now  and  then. 
My  heart  had  melted  over  the  thought  of  the  poor,  wan, 
poverty-stricken  babies.  I  was  planning  what  I  would  do 
to  help  as  I  brushed  out  my  hair.  I  never  wore  any  curls 
now :  they  seemed  sacred  to  baby-fingers,  —  laid  away  as 
his  little  clothes  were. 

"  '  Rose,'  Stephen  said,  '  will  you  come  here  a  few 
moments? ' 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  337 

'"  There  was  a  strained,  hollow  sound  in  his  voice,  that 
gave  me  a  shiver.  I  went  and  stood  by  him  wonderingly. 
Was  he  going  to  be  ill  ? 

"  He  twined  his  arms  about  my  neck,  drawing  me  down 
beside  him,  and  kissed  me  with  a  strange  solemnity. 

"  '  Rose,  how  much  do  you  love  me? ' 

"  It  is  curious  how  the  pathetic  and  the  ridiculous  things 
in  life  jostle  one  another.  I  could  have  quoted  Shak- 
speare  with  a  laugh :  '  There's  beggary  in  love  that  can  be 
reckoned.' 

"  '  Rose,  my  darling,  is  it  enough  to  help  you  bear  a 
great  misfortune  ? ' 

"  '  What?  '  .1  asked  in  surprise. 

"  'You  have  a  right  to  know  first.  It  would  be  coward 
ly  to  allow  you  to  hear  it  from  other  lips.' 

'"But  what  is  it?'  I  asked  impatiently.  Then  I 
looked  into  the  heavy,  weary  ej-es,  noted  the  tortured 
brow,  the  quivering  lips,  felt  the  shivering  pulsation. 
'  Oh  ! '  I  cried  in  dismay,  '  you  are  going  to  be  ill.' 

"'I  hope  not.  It  would  come  very  inopportunely ;' 
and  he  gave  a  dreary  smile. 

"  '  There  can  be  nothing  worse  than  baby's'  — 

"  'Ah!  I  can  never  make  up  to  you  for  that,  can  I, 
Rose  ?  Is  the  child  all  to  the  mother  ?  And  now  another 
burthon.  Mjr  poor  little  darling,  I  sometimes  wish'  — 

"  I  did  not  hear  the  last  part  of  the  sentence  ;  for  the 
first  part  pierced  me  to  the  quick.  There  was  a  time, 
before  baby  came,  when  we  had  been  perfectly  happy. 
How  had  I  drifted  so  away?  How  had  I  come  to  think 
—  what  did  I  think  ?  What  blackness  of  darkness  was 
between  Stephen  and  me  ?  What  great  gulf  ?  Where 
had  gone  the  gladness  of  youth,  of  love,  of  the  hundred 
little  secret  springs  of  joy  between  us?  For  surely  I 
loved  him.  I  had  not  wandered  there  ! 

"  '  O  Stephen ! '  I  cried  with  a  great  gasp  of  agon}', 
'  what  has  happened  ?  Why  am  I  so  far  away  from  you, 

29 


338  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

—  out  in  darkness,  and  shivering  with  cold?    Take  me 
back  into  your  large,  warm  heart ! ' 

"  I  forced  mj^self  into  his  arms  ;  I  kissed  his  cold  lips  ; 
I  clung  to  him  as  if  I  had  been  in  some  imminent  peril ; 
for  it  seemed  as  if  I  had  stood  on  the  verge  of  a  yawning 
abyss. 

"  'Oh,  my  little  darling,  I  am  so  glad  to  take  }x>u 
back ! '  and  there  was  that  heavenly  satisfaction  in  his 
voice,  that  comes  when  one  has  been  among  the  deep 
things  of  the  soul. 

"  '  What  was  it? '  I  went  on  bewildered.  '  Did  I  love 
baby  too  much  ?  '  And  then  my  own  heart  answered  me, 
'  Not  the  love,  no  one  ever  yet  loved  equal  to  Him  who 
gave  "his  only -begotten  Son,"  but  the  passion  of  grief. 
I  saAV  it  all  now.  God  had  left  me  to  be  Stephen's  wife,  • 
and  I  had  almost  spurned  the  blessing. 

"  I  slipped  out  of  his  arms,  and  knelt  before  him,  laid 
my  head  on  his  knee  like  a  child,  and  prayed  for  myself, 
for  us  both. 

"'My  dear  child,  don't;  don't  blame  yourself  so. 
Perhaps  the  fault  was  mine.  You  seemed  so  sacred  in 
your  grief.  O  Rose,  how  can  I  ever  tell  3*ou !  It 
makes  it  so  much  the  harder ; '  and  now  I  felt  his  tears 
on  my  forehead. 

"  '  Stephen,'  I  said,  awed  and  frightened,  '  is  it  any 
crime,  any  sin?  Even  then  I  shall  not  leave  you.  There 
is  no  baby  to  stand  between.  I  am  all,  all  j-ours.' 

"  '  Crime !  "  He  rose  then ;  and  I  laughed  in  my  joy, 
knowing  him  to  be  innocent.  '  No,  my  darling !  Please 
God,  you  'shall  never  suffer  for  any  positive  fault  of  mine. 
I  do  not  know  that  it  is  even  negligence,  except  in  one 
respect.  But  my  wealth  is  all  swept  awa3*.  I  must  pay 
my  debts,  and  begin  anew.  I  did  mean,  after  I  bought 
the  entire  right  in  this  house,  to  settle  it  upon  3*011.  I 
could  have  done  it  when  we  first  came  home ;  but  it  did 
not  seem  quite  honest,  when  I  knew  the  firm  was  in  a 


NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM.  339 

critical  state.  There  have  been  heavy  losses  in  Chicago 
and  abroad '  — 

"'Is  that  all?'  I  was  brave  little  Rose  Endicott 
again.  '  "Why,  Stephen,  I  shall  not  mind  being  poor.  I 
never  was  rich,  yon  know,  until  you  took  me  ;  and,  if  I 
can  comfort  you '  — 

"I  fell  into  his  arms  again,  weeping;  not  for  any 
sorrow,  not  for  any  lost  wealth,  but  rather,  I  think,  from 
joj',  because  the  mists  had  cleared  away  between  us. 

"  We  talked  it  over  at  length  ;  and  I  decided,  with  him, 
that  it  would  be  best  to  give  up  every  thing.  It  would  be 
like  rending  my  heart  to  go  out  of  the  house  ;  for  here  I 
had  known  and  loved  baby,  and  here  he  had  died.  Yet 
even  that  might  be  best.  I  should  realize  how  surely  then 
I  had  onl}'  Stephen. 

"  I  la}r  awake  much  of  the  night,  thinking ;  not  in  any 
nervous  or  fretted  state,  or  even  despondenc}*,  but  trying 
to  undo  the  tangle,  and  learn  how  I  had  drifted  so  far 
away  from  Stephen.  There  was  much  to  humiliate  me. 
I  had  held  my  sorrow  as  the  greatest.  I  had  refused  to 
be  comforted.  True,  it  had  not  been  a  noisy  or  aggres 
sive  grief.  I  had  asked  nothing  ;  and  I  had  also  declined 
to  take  any  thing,  except  from  —  how  strange  !  —  Brother 
Louis.  He  had  known  just  how  to  minister  to  me.  I 
had  gone  to  church,  to  all  the  services,  been  outwardly 
patient,  mild,  resigned  ;  and  yet  now  I  saw  I  had  hardly 
been  to  God  at  all.  It  meant  something  more  than  to 
stand  and  grope  about,  and  hug  myself  in  the  soft,  fra 
grant  darkness,  where  I  could  cry  unnoticed.  It  meant 
that  I  should  be  believing  for  mj-self  and  for  Stephen. 
It  meant,  too,  that  I  should  be  thankful  for  the  little  life 
taken  before  it  had  been  marred,  or  stained,  or  defaced  by 
the  world's  ways.  It  was  so  pure  and  beautiful ;  and 
God  was  holding  it  safe  in  heaven  for  Stephen  and  me, 
when  we  came. 

"  '  Show  me    the  way,'  I  prayed  softly,   '  and  I  will 


340  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

•walk  therein;'  not  in  any  path  of  my  own  devising, 
not  shrinking,  and  shut  away  from  my  fellow-creatures, 
not  bending  all  things  to  minister  to  my  selfish  sorrow, 
but  gladly,  joyfully,  as  befits  one  who  has  laid  up  treasure 
in  heaven. 

"I  rose  in  the  morning  when  Stephen  did.  I  brushed 
out  my  hair,  and  curled  it  over  my  fingers,  laying  away  the 
great  braid  from  the  hair-dresser's.  Then  I  tied  a  pale 
blue  ribbon  in  it,  and  put  on  my  blue  cashmere  morning- 
dress.  Stephen  came  and  kissed  me  wonderingly,  without 
any  comment,  however.  I  was  adorning  for  him,  just  as 
I  had  in  the  first  happy  year  of  my  marriage.  We  went 
down  to  breakfast.  Louis  sat  by  the  window,  reading. 

"  It  did  not  flash  upon  me  all  at  once,  rather  it  came 
after  long  and  confused  thought,  wherein  I  separated  bit  by 
bit,  and  placed  each  just  where  it  belonged,  looked  at  my 
mistake  incredulously  at  first,  and  then  with  great  shame 
and  remorse.  I  had  been  putting  another  in  Stephen's 
stead. 

"  '  Louis,'  my  husband  said  when  he  rose  from  the 
table,  'will  you  come  down  to  the  store  this  morning? 
There  are  some  complications  in  which  you  may  be  a 
little  concerned.  At  all  events,  I  want  your  advice, 
your ' — 

"  '  It  is  nothing  worse,  Stephen?  ' 

"  '  I  think  it  has  reached  the  worst,'  he  answered 
almost  cheerfully. 

"  '  I  will  be  down  in  about  an  hour.' 

"  I  did  not  go  out  to  prayers  with  him  that  morning. 
I  thought  of  the  children  of  Israel  in  the  halting  journej^ 
through  the  wilderness,  when  both  Moses  and  Aaron  had 
prayed,  and  worked  wonders,  and  asked  the  Lord  for 
guidance.  What  had  he  said?  '  Not  sacrifice  and  burnt- 
ofFeriug.'  His  word  had  been  clear:  'Speak  to  the 
children  of  Israel,  that  they  go  forward.'  I  had  just  to 
go  forward. 


NELLY  KDSTNARD'S  KINGDOM.     •        341 

"  I  went  to  my  bureau  after  breakfast,  and  took  out 
baby's  clothes,  gathered  his  playthings  and  some  little 
gifts,  and  folded  them  all  away  in  a  box,  which  I  locked. 
I  did  not  do  it  without  many  tears  ;  but  I  kept  brave  to 
the  very  end.  Then  I  sat  down  again,  and  thought. 

"Without  meaning  any  thing  wrong,  without  even  a 
shadow  of  evil,  I  had  gone  out  of  the  right  path.  I  had 
allowed  Stephen  to  stand  aside,  while  I  walked  with 
another  in  what  I  said  were  heavenly  ways.  A  strange, 
secret  perception  of  things :  it  could  never  have  been 
love  ;  for  I  was  too  true  to  Stephen,  loved  him  too  well, 
and  I  would  have  cut  off  my  right  hand,  and  plucked  out 
my  right  eye,  sooner  than  think  such  a  thing  of  Louis. 
It  had  been  a  high  and  fine  sympathy,  engendered  by 
community  of  tastes  and  interest,  and  indulgence  in  my 
great  sorrow.  But  I  saw,  with  a  little  more,  how  easily 
even  a  good  woman  might  drift  into  dangerous  paths, 
when  there  was  no  truly  noble,  large-hearted,  and  brave 
husband  for  her  to  compare  her  friend  with/j  And  I  say 
now,  that  no  earthty  thing —  child,  sympathy,  or  friend  — 
has  a  right  to  come  between  husband  and  wifev$  When 
these  two  have  chosen  one  another  from  all  the  world ; 
when  their  souls  have  been  filled  with  that  large  awaiting 
of  sacred,  persistent  tenderness,  which  can  discern  the 
face  of  God,  and  not  be  ashamed ;  when  they  have  come 
to  the  heart-truth  and  understanding  that  this  life  and 
love  is  the  beginning  and  foundation  of  the  life  to  come, 
that  it  touches  reverently  the  great  secrets  of  eternit}',  — 
they  have  only  to  go  on.  World  wisdom  and  analysis, 
far-fetched  impulses,  tortured  questionings,  and  catching 
at  outside  things,  are  not  for  them  ;  neither  do  they  want 
any  adviser  between  them.  God  has  made  them  one, 
and  woe  to  the  husband  or  wife  who  first  begins  to  put 
the  bond  asunder,  even  from  a  secret  consciousness  of 
some  higher  and  finer  growth. 

"  I  do  not  wonder  that  both  ideals  and  idols  are  made 
27* 


342  KELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

of  clergymen.  We  think  of  them  as  living  nearer  to  God  ; 
of  having  a  purer  and  finer  conception  ;  of  so  standing  in 
the  glor}7-,  that,  under  their  shadow,  we  may  catch  some 
reflected  ray ;  that  they  are  as  pure  and  strong  in  their 
moral  power  as  they  are  keen  in  their  moral  sense ;  and 
with  them  is  a  certain  blind,  unquestioning  safety.  Yet 
this  adoration  brought  forth  its  bitter  fruit  centuries  ago, 
when  mysticism  flourished:  and,  in  the  end,  blackened 
like  a  poisonous  fungus-growth.  Wisely  did  the  Psalmist 
say,  — 

" l  But  no  man  may  deliver  his  brother,  or  ma7ce  an 
agreement  unto  God  for  him. 

"  k  For  it  costs  more  to  redeem  their  souls;  so  that  lie 
mtist  let  that  alone  forever.' 

"  We  may  believe  ourselves  strong;  but,  until  the  sure 
test  is  applied,  how  can  we  tell?  Sometimes  it  merely 
passes  us  by  with  a  dazzling,  bewildering  flash  :  at  oth.rs, 
it  comes  near,  touches  like  a  galvanic  shock  the  suscepti 
ble  spot,  quivers  around  the  hidden  unsoundness  like 
lightning-play :  haply  for  us  that  we  are  not  scorched 
and  blackened  irremediably. 

"  I  could  not  think  of  all  these  things  deliberately  then. 
I  onby  saw  my  mistake,  and  retraced  my  steps  humbly. 
It  was  enough  that  Stephen  needed  me :  so  I  arose  and 
washed  myself,  and  laid  off  my  sackcloth  ;  for  it  was  well 
with  the  child.  God  had  that  in  his  keeping. 

"  They  were  some  time  in  going  through  all  the  busi 
ness  complications.  It  was  the  worst  that  Stephen  had 
feared  ;  but  there  would  be  enough  to  pay  the  debis.  If 
only  the  house  — 

'"  'Stephen,'  I  said  one  day,  'do  you.  suppose  that  I 
would  keep  it,  if  it  had  been  sealed  upon  me,  while  yon 
owed  one  dollar?  It  will  be  very  hard  to  go  away  "  (and 
I  had  much  ado  to  keep  the  tears  out  of  my  voice)  ; 
'  but  I  want  you  to  keep  your  good  name  unstained. 
I  have  planned  how  we  shall  have  a  few  rooms,  and 


NELLY  KINNAED'S  KINGDOM.  343 

I  will  do  my  own  work.  Let  all  the  rest  go.  "We  have 
one  another.' 

"  I  had  brought  him  a  little  key  to  put  on  his  ring,  and 
keep  until  I  asked  him  for  it.  It  belonged  to  the  box 
that  held  baby's  earthly  treasures,  and  was  the  token, 
though  he  knew  it  not  until  afterward,  that  I  gave  even 
that  sacred  grief  to  his  care. 

"  Bessie  came  to  stay  with  Mrs.  Mallory  while  Eugene 
went  South ;  and  they  were  both  so  good  to  us !  She 
treated  the  boys  like  sons,  and  gave  us  many  pleasures, 
which  she  asked  asf  favors  to  herself.  She  was  such  a 
rare,  bright,  large-hearted  woman,  with  just  a  touch  of 
piquant  sharpness,  a  spicy  flavoring  to  her  nature,  that 
kept  it  sweet  and  wholesome.  Bessie  suited  her  so 
exactly.  It  is  so  delightful  in  this  world  to  meet  with 
these  elected  relationships  that  are  agreeable  in  every 
respect. 

"  The  business  went  on  to  a  conclusion,  The  house  was 
quietly  sold,  transferred  to  the  creditors,  and  disposed  of. 
It  gave  us  both  a  great  pang  when  it  was  fairly  done, 
though  we  were  to  keep  possession  until  May. 

"  We  sat  together  one  evening,  Stephen  and  I,  when 
Louis  entered  the  room.  There  had  come  to  be  a  slight 
difference  between  us ;  and  }-et,  somehow,  I  loved  him 
better.  His  face  had  a  pure,  transfigured  look  to  me ; 
and  he  had  taken  up  a  fashion  of  placing  Stephen  and  I 
alwa}rs  together.  I  had  never  allowed  my  own  revelation 
to  wander  out  of  my  own  soul,  but  gave  it  into  the  hands 
of  God,  who  had  seen  on  all  sides,  to  judge.  There  I  left 
it  content,  and  just  accepted  his  promises. 

"  Louis  came  in,  as  I  have  said.  I  had  been  sewing, 
and  Stephen  reading ;  but  we  had  left  off  again  to  talk. 
There  was  a  little  space  between  our  chairs ;  and  he 
filled  it,  dropping  something,  a  folded  paper,  into  my  lap, 
and  laying  his  hand  on  Stephen's  shoulder. 

"  '  I  want  you  to  look  over  this  with  Rose,'  he  said 


344  NELLY  KINNABD'S  KINGDOM. 

clearly.  '  It  is  my  gift  to  you  both ;  but  I  put  it  in  her 
name,  and  that  of  her  children,  so  that  there  need  never 
be  a  question,  in  any  future  contingenc}',  about  a  transfer. 
There  would  never  be  any  place  quite  as  dear  to  3*011  both 
as  this  :  there  is  no  place  so  dear  to  me.  I  shall  always 
remember  how  she  persuaded  me  to  come  ;  how  3-011  took 
me  in  ;  and  how,  with  God's  help,  I  began  a  new  life  in 
this  very  house.  I  could  not  see  it  go  into  a  stranger's 
hands.  I  should  like,  if  it  pleased  you  both,  to  have 
my  home  here  with  yon.  I  have  some  money  left, 
which,  with  my  salary,  will  quite  suffice  for  my  wants. 
I  do  not  think  I  shall  ever  marry  (not  that  I  make  any 
rash  vows  on  the  subject)  ;  but,  if  I  do,  it  will  be  many 
3'ears  hence.' 

"  Through  this  speech,  Stephen  had  been  unfolding  the 
paper.  Our  eyes  caught  one  sentence  at  the  same 
moment,  —  '  To  Rose  Endicott  Duncan  and  her  children, 
their  heirs  and  assigns,  forever.' 

"  Stephen  rose,  and  put  his  arms  about  his  brother's 
neck.  The  silence  was  better  than  any  words.  Then  he 
reached  out  for  me,  and  brought  me  into  the  circle,  as  if, 
thereby,  he  gave  Louis  a  brother's  right  to  me,  and 
me  a  sister's  interest  in  him. 

"  "We  went  to  talking,  at  length,  in  that  broken,  tearful 
fashion  that  people  always  fall  into  when  their  souls  have 
been  deeply  moved.  If  we  could  have  asked  one  thing 
out  of  the  wreck,  it  would  have  been  the  power  to  keep 
this.  I  think  Stephen  had  felt  somewhat  hurt  at  Stuart's 
eagerness  to  be  assured  that  he  was  all  safe.  He  was 
engaged  to  an  heiress,  and  life  lay  smiling  and  prosperous 
before  him  ;  but  there  would  alwaj's  be  a  strand  of  half- 
fascinating  selfishness  in  him.  Some  friends  had  already 
proffered  Stephen  assistance ;  but  Stuart,  out  of  his 
abundance,  had  not  held  forward  even  a  hint  of  promise. 
And  Louis  would  never  be  making  money  to  lay  up  for 
the  future.  It  was  doubly  generous  in  him. 


NELLY  KCSTNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  345 

"  '  O  Stephen ! '  I  said  with  a  glad  cry  when  we  were 
alone,  '  he  is  next  to  papa  in  every  good  word  and  work. 
Papa  could  never  have  been  more  nobly  generous.' 

"  '  It  is  the  grace  come  back  again,  my  little  Rose,  the 
"  bread  returned,"  that  you  cast  on  the  troubled  waters 
of  his  boyhood.  What  could  either  of  us  have  done 
without  you?" 

"  'It  is  so  good  to  know  that  you  are  glad  to  have 
me!' 

"  '  Glad ! '  and  he  folded  me  to  Ms  heart.  '  Can  I  fill 
up  the  one  lonely  space,  Rose?  ' 

"  '  O  Stephen,  you  do,  you  do ! '  and  I  spoke  the 
sweet,  solemn  truth." 


[What  she  did  not  know,  what  neither  of  them  were  to 
know,  until  they  stood  around  the  great  white  throne,  was 
the  warfare  Louis  Duncan  had  been  fighting  out  like  a 
good  soldier.  The  unspoken  but  perceptible  change  in 
Rose  puzzled  him  at  first.  He  had  come  to  look  upon 
her  as  little  less  than  a  saint.  To  his  mind  she  was 
purity,  devotion,  self-abnegation,  holiness,  she  who  could 
be  another  St.  Elizabeth  of  Hungary  if  occasion  required. 
He  liked  to  see  her  in  her  simple  white  dresses,  with  a 
black  chain  and  cross  about  her  neck,  and  that  expression 
of  rapt  devotion  in  her  eyes. 

But  what  had  come  over  her  now  ?  Was  she  going  back 
to  the  vanities  of  the  world  in  this  season  of  loss  and  sor 
row  ?  Was  she  turning  from  the  only  stronghold  to  poor 
human  love  ?  He  studied  her  in  amazement :  he  felt 
hurt,  neglected.  Stephen  was  always  with  her  now, 
Stephen  — 

Something  rose  in  his  heart,  stirred  it,  made  it  con 
scious  of  a  longing  and  a  tenderness,  a  pain,  a  dreary 
looking-for  ward.  What  was  it?  Surely  he  was  not  envi 
ous  of  their  happiness  ? 


346  NELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM. 

It  was  an  awful  knowledge  that  has  overtaken  both 
men  and  women  before,  — good,  honest,  noble  hearts.  If 
she  were  Rose  Endicott  to-day,  and  he  — 

He  plucked  it  out,  and  trod  it  under  foot,  —  the  sweetest 
part  of  a  man's  life,  when  it  does  not  lead  into  forbidden 
paths.  He  was  no  weak,  sentimental  hero.  If  he  could 
not  conquer  himself,  he  had  no  right  to  sta}7  and  glance  at 
her  even.  If  he  coveted  one  look,  one  word,  one  smile, 
to  have  and  to  hold  in  his  secret  heart,  it  was  a  sin.  He 
could  not  help  being  a  man,  and  seeing  what  might  have 
been  possible  to  life  ;  but  he  rose  to  thrust  it  away  before 
it  could  take  root.  He  would  not  stain  and  mar  his  own 
soul, — hers  was  safe  in  her  husband's  love, — he  gave 
thanks  for  that  •  now.  This  thing  had  been  deeded  to 
another  by  God's  gift  in  the  beginning;  let  him  keep 
that  clearly  before  his  eyes. 

He  went  out  to  the  fields  of  his  labor,  taking  the 
most  unpromising  to-day.  Here,  in  these  miserable  dens, 
were  men  and  women  who  had  been  born  with  clean 
souls,  but  who  had  overlaid  them  with  selfish  desires  and 
indulgence ;  who  had  yielded,  little  by  little  ;  who  had 
often  known  the  right,  but  closed  their  eyes  upon  it.  If 
heaven  is  not  reached  by  a  single  bound,  no  more  are 
such  depths  of  infamy  and  sin.  But  he  pitied  them  with 
a  profound  and  tender  charity :  he  stretched  out  one  hand, 
while,  with  the  other,  he  held  the  angel  by  the  thigh,  like 
the  wrestler  of  old,  and  prayed  his  prayer:  "  I  will  not 
let  thee  go,  unless  thou  bless  me." 

He  returned  home  at  night  tired,  but  content.  He  saw 
them  smile  upon  one  another  while  he  kept  quite  outside. 
It  was  their  blessed,  God-given  right. 

Afterward  the  plan  concerning  the  house  entered  his 
mind.  His  sta}'ing  should  be  as  they  elected.  He  surely 
could  tell  by  word  or  sign.  He  would  not  take  himself 
out  of  their  presence  from  any  weakness  or  cowardice, 
remembering  the  bidding  of  the  grand  old  apostle  : ' '  Hav 
ing  done  all  things,  to  stand."] 


KELLY  KINNAKD'S  KINGDOM.  347 

"  It  was  so  delightful  to  think  of  going  on  unchanged  ! 
Stephen  had  some  very  good  business-friends,  who  found 
an  opening  for  him.  I  sent  away  one  of  the  servants, 
and  became  a  regular  little  housekeeper  myself.  I  think 
Stephen  and  I  had  never  been  so  happy. 

"  I  began  to  understand  presently,  that  a  new  feeling 
had  sprung  up  between  Louis  and  ourselves.  I  wondered 
whether  it  was  because  he  had  given  us  the  house,  that 
he  was  so  careful  of  assuming  any  kind  of  right.  He  put 
Stephen  in  the  place  of  elder  brother,  and  paid  him  an 
indescribable  deference.  They  were  so  dear  to  each 
other !  There  is  alwaj's  an  exquisite  charm  about  the 
friendships  of  men,  and  particularly  that  of  brothers, 
which  is  much  rarer  in  this  world  than  it  should  be. 

"  Indeed,  it  seemed  as  if  good  times  were  begin 
ning  with  us  again.  First  there  came  the  tidings  of 
Nelh-'s  baby.  The}'  all  said  Dr.  Kinnard  was  overjoyed. 
I  do  think  a  bit  of  the  best  fortune  to  her  had  been  Aunt 
Adelaide's  marriage  :  it  gave  her  the  undisputed  possess- 
orship  of  her  house  and  of  the  children,  in  a  greater 
degree  than  before. 

"  Then  Bessie's  marriage  took  place.  It  had  been  such 
a  lovely,  romantic  kind  of  an  engagement !  —  every  thing 
happening  just  right,  and  Mrs.  Mallory  setting  at  defi 
ance  the  traditional  mother-in-law.  She  would  always  be 
with  them  ;  but  we  could  see  that  Bessie  would  not  have 
the  ghost  of  a  chance  for  complaint. 

"  The}*  expected  to  remain  abroad  several  }-ears.  The 
choice  belongings  were  packed  and  stored,  the  house 
rented,  the  horses  sold  ;  yet  it  was  a  very  bright  parting  : 
I  don't  know  wh}',  except  that  Mrs.  Mallory  would  not 
let  any  one  be  sad. 

"  '  I  wonder,  little  wife,  if  we  shall  ever  go  to  Europe,' 
Stephen  said  afterward,  with  something  like  a  sigh. 

"  '  I  don't  care  a  bit,'  I  made  answer  lightly.  '  I  have 
resolved  to  think  that  whatever  God  sends  is  the  very 
best.' 


348  NELLY  KIKNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

"  He  smiled,  and  pinched  my  cheek.  It  was  getting 
quite  round  and  rosy  again. 

"The  next  was  a  Heaven-sent  blessing  to  fill  baby's 
place.  I  took  it  with  a  great  throb  of  thankful  love. 
And  yet  he  was  so  different  from  Stevie ;  not  nearly  so 
handsome,  with  brown-red  curly  hair,  like  mine,  and  blue 
eyes,  but  the  best,  merriest,  frolicking  baby  in  the  whole 
world,  when  he  grew  large  enough  to  enjoy  such  things. 

"Louis  was  exceedingly  delighted.  "What  a  brave 
worker  he  was  in  the  Master's  vinej-ard  !  The  world  was 
full  of  wide  meaning  and  rich  promises  for  him.  Instead 
of  disdaining  it,  and  sighing  for  heaven,  he  tried  to  make 
it  the  better,  even  for  one  clean  soul  rescued  from  the 
depths.  There  was  in  him  a  large  steadfastness  and 
truth,  that  seemed  to  lift  e very-day  Avork  above  any  mere 
drudgery.  Like,  and  yet  unlike,  papa,  yet  living  in  the 
same  accord,  feeling  the  continual  presence,  the  shaping 
and  placing  of  some  wiser  hand,  the  going-forth  in  con 
tinual  gladness,  and  sowing  by  the  wa3'side,  knowing  full 
well  that  ha  should  reap,  if  he  fainted  not. 

"  Oddly  enough,  there  came  to  us  presently  the  news  of 
Daisy's  engagement.  It  had  been  a  pet  plan  all  along 
of  Dr.  Kinnard's,  it  seemed.  There  was  to  be  a  rectory 
built  at  Edgerly  (they  had  finished  a  very  nice  church) , 
and  then  Daisy  was  to  go  in  bridal  robes,  and  be  its 
keeper. 

"  That  spring  I  was  not  so  well,  — '  run-down,'  as  peo 
ple  sa}r.  Stephen  was  a  good  deal  alarmed,  and  asked 
Dr.  Kinnard  to  come  in  and  see  me.  It  ended  by  my 
being  sent  to  Edgerly  for  the  summer. 

"  Daisy  was  married  the  first  of  Juna,  and  came  home  a 
fortnight  afterward  to  take  possession  of  her  new  house. 
She  was  such  a  sweet,  sensible,  unaffected  bod}' ;  and  then 
her  experience  in  parish-work  stood  her  in  good  stead. 
Mr.  Dudley  was  very  fond  of  her ;  not  foolishly  so,  but 
Avith  a  grave,  inherent  tenderness  good  to  see. 


NELLY  KDSTNARD'S  KINGDOM.  349 

"  I  think  it  is  best  that  people  should  occasionally  go  out 
of  their  own  narrow  bounds,  and  study  the  lives  of  others. 
I  began  to  take  a  great  interest  in  Nelly's.  She  had 
grown  more  like  mamma  than  any  of  us,  and  had  that 
s  \veet,  pleasant  wisdom,  that  large  awaiting  and  hopeful 
outlook.  She  kept  up  with  her  husband ;  and  he  was  a 
strongly  intellectual  man,  rather  severe  on  shams,  and 
'  isms  '  that  would  not  bear  clear  winnowing,  but  not  an 
unfair  opponent.  They  had  gathered  around  them  a  charm 
ing  and  cultured  circle ;  but  she  was  as  entertaining  to 
some  of  the  doctor's  poor  patients,  who  came  in  with 
wan,  sickly  babies,  and  wanted  comforting,  as  if  they  were 
chosen  friends.  I  told  her,  one  day,  that  she  would  be  a 
powerful  rival  to  Daisy. 

"  She  had  managed  to  gain  over  her  young  step-son, 
who  adored  her,  and  grandmother,  who  was  a  really 
pleasant  old  lady,  thinking  '  my  son's  wife '  qould  not 
possibly  be  mistaken  on  any  point.  I  knew  she  had 
Avorked  hard  for  these  two  victories. 

"  Then  Miss  Maud  came  home  from  school,  bringing  a 
friend  with  her.  This  was  the  first  time  Nelly  had  really 
taken  her  under  her  care.  I  used  to  watch  her  wise  way 
of  planning  and  working.  She  made  it  so  pleasant  for 
the  two  girls,  offering  them  her  ponj'-carriage,  asking 
other  young  people  in  to  tea,  arranging  some  parties  to 
the  woods,  and,  somehow,  being  in  the  midst  of  all  with 
her  beautiful,  animated  face,  and  her  inspiring  voice.  It 
was  odd  to  take  note  of  Maud  as  well.  She  seemed  so 
afraid  of  yielding  to  her  stepmother's  influence,  and 
regarded  her  with  a  kind  of  distrustful  jealousy  that  was 
often  overpowered  by  Nelly's  pure  goodness.  Sometimes 
the  doctor  would  be  quite  vexed.  I  used  to  smile  at  the 
manner  in  which  Nelly  restrained  him.  Once,  indeed,  he 
appealed  to  me  to  know  if  I  did  not  consider  him  hen 
pecked.  It  was  so  ridiculous,  that  we  all  laughed. 

"  After  her  friend  went  away,  Maud's  aunt  sent  for  her. 
30 


350  NELLY  KINNARD'S  KINGDOM. 

I  think  she  did  not  really  care  to  go ;  but  no  one  made 
any  demur.  She  only  remained  a  fortnight,  however  ;  and, 
after  she  returned,  we  all  remarked  a  little  change  in  her. 
She  began  to  pay  Nelly  a  pleasant  respect.  She  so 
seldom  gave  her  any  name  in  speaking  to  her,  and 
seemed  to  delight  in  having  different  tastes  and  desires ; 
but  now  she  deferred  to  her  occasionally,  and  appeared 
really  glad  when  circumstances  compelled  her  to  adopt 
her  stepmother's  way  of  thinking.  Altogether,  I  thought 
her  much  improved. 

"  The  day  before  she  returned  to  school,  she  was  up  in 
Nelly's  room  a  long  while.  I  noticed,  when  she  came  to 
supper,  that  she  had  been  ciying ;  but  she  was  so  unusu 
ally  gracious,  that  I  knew  nothing  had  gone  wrong. 

"That  night,  of  her  own  accord,  she  came  and  kissed 
Nelly  as  she  was  going  to  bed. 

"  Wheu  she  was  quite  up  stairs,  Nelly  rose,  crossed 
over  to  her  husband,  and,  putting  her  arms  around  his 
neck,  said  in  a  tone  of  deep  emotion,  — 

"  '  Barton,  congratulate  me.  I  have  won  my  kingdom 
at  length.  •  I  have  entered  in,  and  taken  possession.' 

"  'My  darling!' 

"If  she  could  be  such  a  mother  to  another  woman's 
children,  what  would  she  not  be  to  her  own  ! 

"  They  sent  me  home  well  and  rosy.  I  began  to  have 
some  doubt  as  to  whether  I  had  the  very  best  husband  in 
the  family,  when  there  were  two  such  men  as  Dr.  Kinnard 
and  Mr.  Dudley. 

"  But  he  was  the  best  to  me." 


"  Five  years  after  Bessie's  marriage,  we  all  met  at  the 
rectory  to  welcome  her  home,  though  now  it  was  golden, 
glowing  September.  The  dear  old  house  overflowed, 
not  only  with « children  and  grandchildren,  but  talk  and 


NELLY  KJNNARD'S  KINGDOM.  351 

laughter.  Papa's  hair  was  quite  silvery,  and  his  gentle, 
absent-minded  waj's  were  so  sweet ;  and  mamma  was  a 
grandmother  out  of  a  story-book.  Fan  was  stout  and 
ros3r.  Winthrop  had  been  elected  a  member  of  Congress  ; 
and  they  were  getting  to  be  quite  grand  people.  Babies 
grew  and  multiplied :  there  were  five  now.  No  want  or 
trouble  seemed  to  come  near  there.  Mr.  Churchill  was 
quite  ailing  now  and  then ;  but  Miss  Esther  would  be 
stately  and  elegant  to  the  last. 

"  I  suppose  I  ought  to  bring  myself  in  next.  We  were 
prospering,  though  not  back  to  the  old  point.  And  }-et 
we  care  little  for  that.  The  serenity  of  our  souls  is  not 
disturbed  about  money.  There  are  a  few  silvery  threads 
finding  their  way  about  Stephen's  temples  ;  but  he  smiles 
over  them,  while  his  eyes  still  keep  their  kindly,  half- 
shady  light.  We  have  a  wonderful  little  girl,  who  is  quite 
the  family  beauty.  She  makes  us  think  of  him  hourly ;  and 
we  talk  about  him  now  with  a  tender  sweetness  that  leaves 
no  pain. 

"Nelly  eclipses  us  all,  I  think.  She  always  was  tall 
and  elegant ;  but  now  she  seems  rounded  out  to  the  perfec 
tion  of  sjTumetiy,  and  adorned  with  the  perfection  of  col 
oring.  The  years  have  crowned  her  with  their  richness  ; 
and  her  own  motherhood  glorifies  her  hardly  less  than 
that  she  accepted  at  her  marriage.  It  has  brought  its 
own  reward.  She  is  so  lovely  with  this  grown  son  and 
daughter ;  she  makes  so  much  of  every  grace  and  tender 
ness,  that  they  unconsciously  emulate  her.  Edgerly  people 
talk  of  them  as  being  such  a  happy  family ;  and  it  is  true 
enough.  If  Dr.  Kinnard's  summer  was  late,  it  is  none 
the  less  glowing.  Beside  Frances,  he  has  twin-boys, 
pretty  as  pictures. 

"  There  is  Daisy  and  her  husband,  and  a  little  daughter 
Dais}',  whose  sweetness  of  mind  and  soul  shines  out,  and 
makes  her  beautiful  with  the  something  that  alwaj-s 
puzzles  people.  And  there  is  radiant  Bess,  Queenie 


352  NELLY  KESTNAED'S  KINGDOM. 

always  now,  bright,  dazzling,  stylish  from  the  crown  of 
her  head  to  her  dainty  foot,  with  her  rippling,  rapid  talk, 
her  laughs  of  saucy,  suggestive  music,  her  piquant  waj's, 
oddly  like  her  handsome,  pink-cheeked  mother-in-law. 
They  have  left  one  little  girl  asleep  in  a  grave}-ard  at 
Florence :  they  have  another  with  them,  and  Grand 
mother  Mallory  is  rarely  seen  without  it.  Eugene  says 
he  and  Queenie  have  leave  to  go  their  waj-s  now. 

"  There  are  two  more  fair  girls,  Gertrude,  and  Edith, 
for  whom  Stephen  stood  so  long  ago,  and  who  love  him 
dearl}'.  We  sit  oat  on  the  porch  and  on  the  grass,  and  talk 
all  these  times  over,  from  the  beginning,  —  our  romances, 
that  will  presently  be  our  children's,  the  world  goes  on  so 
fast.  The  twilight  falls,  and  finds  us  there.  Then  papa 
leans  softly  over  to  the  wife  of  his  youth,  the  woman  who 
has  marked  her  plain,  daily  path  with  jewels,  that  the  Lord 
will  claim  for  his  in  that  other  country.  And  he  saya 
slowly,  tenderly  clasping  her  fingers  in  his, — 

"  '  Give  her  of  the  fruit  of  her  hands,  and  let  her  own 
works  praise  her  in  the  gates.'  " 


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